Attitudes and Behaviour of Adult Pakistani Diabetic Population towards their Disease

• Main Authors: Anum Javed, Ahmar Mehmood, Sean Victor, Zeba Haque
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dow University of Health Sciences 2014-12-01
• Series: Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences
• Subjects: diabetes mellitus; behaviour; attitude; lifestyle
• Online Access: http://www.jduhs.com/index.php/jduhs/article/view/123

Objective: To assess the variations in attitudes and behaviour towards the disease process and interaction with the social environment of the diabetic persons due to long standing disease. Methods: This cross sectional study included four hundred participants of both gender, with confirmed type II diabetes for at least 5years. A pre-validated questionnaire was used to evaluate the effects of the disease sufferings on the attitudes and behaviours towards social environment and disease. Frequency analysis was used to analyze the data using SPSS version 16.0. Results: 31.07% of diabetic population never noticed the change in their behaviour while 43.93% and 25%sometimes and always acknowledged the change in their behaviour, respectively. Less than one third consult their physicians regularly to manage their disease. 47.5% have no hope for their cure and 40% think that they have become a liability to their co-workers. Only 25.5% realize the importance of exercise in disease management. 27.5% of people undergo depression due to diabetes. More than half of the participants had to change their lifestyles after being diagnosed for diabetes. Significantly, less people (5%) believe that their disease has affected their married life. Conclusion: Sufferings of the diabetic individuals alter their behaviour towards their social environment along with their attitude. The study provides a substantial preliminary data to evaluate the effects of disease process on ones personality which may help to manage the disease more effectively.