Treatment-related misconceptions among diabetic patients in Western Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To describe the types and pattern of treatment-related misconceptions among Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) registered diabetic patients in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: A sample of 1039 PHCCs registered diabetic patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, concerning diabetic treatment-related misconceptions. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Makkah city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 2000 to September 2000. A scoring system was used to document the frequency of misconceptions. The relationship of misconceptions to socio-demographic and diabetes-related variables were assessed using chi-squared tests.

RESULTS: Four hundred and five (39%) patients had a high treatment misconception score. The score was significantly higher among females than males (P< 0.00001), and also among patients older than 35 years (P< 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between Saudis and non-Saudis, or in association with different education levels. Also, the score was significantly higher among patients with a shorter disease duration (P<0.04), and among patients who did not enjoy continuity of care (P<0.00001). Patients' misconceptions were mostly related to reasons for stopping medications. Moreover, patients thought that cure from diabetes was expected following a short course of treatment (16.5%) and that one could eat what he or she liked as long as medications were taken (23%).

CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed the rate of treatment-related misconceptions to be high. It stresses the need for constant motivation and one on one level education at frequent intervals to encourage better knowledge regarding the disease and subsequent compliance to treatment.