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Attitudes, Knowledge and Blood Glucose Control
Author(s) -
Lockington T. J.,
Powles S.,
Meadows K. A.,
Wise P. H.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1989.tb01170.x
Subject(s) - medicine , control (management) , family medicine , artificial intelligence , computer science
The hypothesis that management‐related diabetes knowledge and attitudes may be more directly related to diabetic control than general knowledge of or general attitude towards diabetes is examined. Sixty Type 1 diabetic patients were studied using an itemized knowledge questionnaire and an attitude scale measuring a general attitude to diabetes but containing a previously defined subgroup of items concerned with attitudes to management. A significant linear correlation was found between management‐related knowledge ( r =‐0.39; p <0.01) and HbA 1c . However, knowledge of insulin, diet, footcare, and glucose monitoring were not significantly correlated with HbA 1c , poor control being associated with both very low and very high knowledge status. A significant linear correlation was found between management‐related attitudes (but not general attitude) and HbA 1c ( r =‐0.47; p <0.01). The multiple regression correlation between HbA 1c and both management knowledge and attitudes was −0.51. Most (63%) of the association between knowledge and HbA 1c was attributable to attitude. This study provides support for education strategies based upon achieving improved patient attitudes and motivation rather than comprehensive knowledge as the most effective way of improving patient diabetic control.