Browsing by Author "Winton, Loreen"
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- ItemKnowledge, attitudes and adapted behaviours of adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, attending a private clinic in the Western Cape: A mixed-method study.(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-02-24) Winton, Loreen; Visagie, Surona; Geiger, Martha; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Centre for Rehabilitation Studies.ENGLISH SUMMARY : Introduction: Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic. It is one of the top ten causes of death globally. Insulin resistance and deficiency are the main causes of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Without proper control of blood glucose levels, tissue damage takes place within the body, causing diabetesrelated complications. These include possible loss of vision, renal failure, peripheral and autonomic neuropathy, sexual dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and symptoms of hypertension and lipoprotein abnormalities. Studies done in South Africa have demonstrated relatively poor knowledge, attitudes and practices of individuals with T2DM. Most of these studies have been conducted in state hospitals or rural areas in Southern Africa. The current study aimed to describe the diabetes-related knowledge, attitudes and self-reported adapted behaviours of persons diagnosed for at least one year with T2DM, and attending a private clinic in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: A mixed method design was applied using a phased approach; quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire, followed by qualitative interviews. Sixty-seven consecutively sampled participants, attending the Diabetes Life Clinic, formed the study population and completed the questionnaire. Six participants were interviewed via telephone for the qualitative phase. Descriptive statistics have been used for quantitative data, as well as basic inferential statistics, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data. Results: A knowledge score of 60.6% was found. A significant correlation was found between less favourable attitude and behaviour. The behaviour scores of female participants was significantly lower than that of males (p=.16). There was a positive significant association between behaviour and higher levels of education (p=.049), and a significant association between depression (p=<.001) and stress/anxiety (p=.026) and quality of life. Qualitative data elicited three themes; 'Where it all started - How the diagnosis changed my life'; 'The diabetes journey – A daily choice'; 'It takes a village…support is key!’ Conclusion: Despite a reasonable knowledge score, this study sample demonstrated less than favourable behaviour and attitudes. The qualitative findings illustrated the stress and difficulty of managing diabetes daily. Recommendations were for healthcare professionals and their role in collaborating in empowering-partnerships with patients, NGO’s and their role in support groups and programmes, patients and their families, and the need to assume ownership of their DM.