Knowledge and Perception of COVID-19 Infection among the Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Orebowale A. Olugbemide
Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria.
Adewumi O. Alabi
Department of Radiation Biology, Radiotherapy and Radiodiagnosis, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Airenakho Emorinken *
Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria.
Mercy O. Dic-Ijiewere
Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria.
Patrick O. Adunbiola
Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria.
Kennedy I. Akhuemokhan
Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria and Department of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.
Osahon I. Otaigbe
Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the perception of care among diabetes mellitus patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 173 diabetes mellitus patients over 12 weeks in the endocrinology outpatient clinic. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to acquire data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as questions to assess COVID-19 knowledge and perception of care. The data acquired were analyzed using SPSS, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: A total of 173 diabetes mellitus patients participated in the study, and there were more females than males (59% vs. 41%). The participants' mean age was 55.8 ± 14.9 years. The mean knowledge score was 12.42 ± 6.01, and the majority (51.4%) of the participants had poor knowledge of COVID-19 while 11.0% had good knowledge of COVID-19. Higher levels of education and monthly income were significantly associated with higher mean knowledge scores (P-value < 0.001). Increasing monthly income was the only significant predictor of higher knowledge scores (P-value < 0.001).
Conclusion: The majority of diabetes mellitus patients had poor overall knowledge of COVID-19. It is therefore imperative that patients with diabetes mellitus are well informed as new trends in COVID-19 unfold.
Keywords: COVID-19, diabetes mellitus, knowledge, Nigeria, perception