Evaluation of the knowledge of type 2 diabetic patients on diabetes in the Endocrinology-Diabetology Department of the Yopougon University Hospital, Abidjan

The diabetic patient's knowledge of his pathology is integral to his care, and his training in this area has become a public health priority. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of type 2 diabetic patients followed in the Endocrinology Department of the University Hospital of Yopougon. We carried out a cross-sectional and analytical descriptive study in 2019, in type 2 diabetic patients followed for at least one year who consented to participate in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed for the study and administered by the investigators. A total of 137 patients were included, of which 68.7% were women. The overall level of patient knowledge was insufficient at 59%, 53.1% had a blood glucose meter and only 15.7% had already attended at least two therapeutic education sessions (TPE) conducted in the service. The threshold for defining diabetes was known in 17.7% of patients, signs of hyperglycemia were known in 70.6% of patients, and symptoms of hypoglycemia were known in 53.1% of them. Chronic complications were known in 72.8% of patients. After multivariate logistic regression, the factors associated with a good level of knowledge were: possession of a blood glucose meter p<0.01, high school level p<0.01, and duration of diabetes p=0.02. The higher the school level or the older diabetes, the better the level of knowledge was p<0.01.