Survey on knowledge of healthcare providers about childhood Diabetes Mellitus in tertiary healthcare institution in a resource-limited setting

Abstract

Background: With increasing prevalence of childhood DM, it is important that health care providers know about the disease and manage this properly. We aimed to survey the knowledge and experience of health care providers in tertiary institution so as to make informed recommendations.

Methods: Pretested self-administered and standardised questionnaires were distributed to nurses, and residents including paediatricians- in - training in a tertiary health institution. The knowledge and proficiency questionnaires were made simple and multi choice to reduce ambiguity. Mean knowledge was compared using ANOVA, and Tukey post hoc analyses and p values <0.05 were considered significant.

Results: Two hundred questionnaires were distributed and 185 were returned filled giving a response rate of 92.5%. There were 80 (43.2%) nurses, and 105 (56.8%) doctors, 41 (22.2%) of which were paediatricians or paediatricians-in-training. Paediatric residents had higher overall mean knowledge in all aspects evaluated. About 60% of respondents correctly identified diagnosis of DM based on FBG, and 61.6% got the response for random BG. Forty six (24.9%) of respondents did RBG for all children attending their facilities, only 16 of these were paediatric residents. Nurses were willing to give OHA to established T1DM children.

Conclusion: Many health workers have little knowledge and practice experience in DM with the attendant effect of poor management of these children. We thus recommend a review of undergraduate medical curriculum, and CME to limit this dearth in knowledge.

Keywords: Survey, Knowledge, Diabetes Mellitus, Health care providers, Nigeria