Knowledge, Attitude and Compliance to Dietary Recommendation Among Type-2 Diabetes Patients Attending Medical Outpatient Clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Dietary management is important in preventing complications associated with diabetes mellitus and enhancing quality of life. 
However, compliance to dietary recommendations among Diabetes Patients (DPs) remain unknown. This study was designed to 
assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Compliance (KAC) of Type 2 diabetic patients to dietary recommendation. This crosssectional study involved 101 DPs attending Medical Outpatient Clinic at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. A semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics, diabetes 
history and KAC to dietary recommendation. Knowledge was assessed on a 26-point scale and categorized as good (≥18.0) and 
poor (<18.0). Attitude was assessed on a 34-point scale and considered as positive and negative at ≥27 and <27, respectively. 
Compliance was assessed on a 42-point scale and classified as good (≥29) or poor (<29). Data were analyzed and summarized 
as descriptive statistics and association among variables was determined using Chi-square test at p<0.05. Age of respondents was 
56.9±11.6 years, 58.4% were female, 72.2% were married, and 11.9% had no formal education. About half (49.5%) of the 
participants had normal body mass index, 30.7% were overweight and 16.8% were obese. Diabetes duration was 9.4±5.7 years, 
46.4% had family history of diabetes mellitus, and 93.1% relied on Dietitians for dietary plans. Patients on diet and drug, diet 
alone, and diet and insulin constituted 79.2%, 14.9% and 5.9%, respectively. Only 8.9% had normal blood glucose level and 
31.7% were pre-diabetic. Mean fasting blood glucose value was 108.94±19.54mg/dL and 42.6% had co-morbidities including 
hypertension (25.7%), eye problem (7.9%), renal problem (5.0%) and ulcer (4.0%). Respondents with good knowledge, positive 
attitude and good compliance were 53.5%, 63.4%, and 77.2%, respectively. Compliance to dietary recommendation was higher 
than observed knowledge and attitude levels of the respondents. Efforts should be intensified to strengthen compliance to reduce 
diabetes complications.