Assessment of the influence of information source on knowledge level about diabetes among Saudi adolescents
Background: Knowledge about diabetes and its complications may create sufficient motivation to establish behavioural change. This study investigated influence of source of information about diabetes on the overall level of knowledge about the disease among Saudi adolescents. Methods: this study wa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Hail Journal of Health Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/hjhs/Pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=1658-8312;year=2020;volume=2;issue=2;spage=89;epage=96;aulast=Alkhayyal |
| Summary: | Background: Knowledge about diabetes and its complications may create sufficient motivation to establish behavioural change. This study investigated influence of source of information about diabetes on the overall level of knowledge about the disease among Saudi adolescents.
Methods: this study was a cross-sectional study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia targeting male and female adolescents aged between 15 and 18. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire measuring the level of knowledge about diabetes. A scoring system was established to evaluate knowledge level about diabetes of each participant. Chi square test was used to assess the presence of statistical difference of knowledge levels according to the studied characteristics.
Results: 602 adolescents were recruited in this investigation. The overall number of adolescents who were classified to have a lower level of knowledge was 260 (43%). The participating adolescents reported different sources of information but the association between level of knowledge and source of information was only statistically significant among those who reported family members as a source of knowledge about diabetes (p value <0.05). Adolescents with a first degree relative affected with diabetes were more likely to report family members as a source of knowledge about diabetes.
Conclusion: Family members were a main source of knowledge about diabetes among the sampled adolescents. Having found that family members were a major source of knowledge about diabetes may indicate that targeting adolescents with health education efforts about diabetes may need to be augmented by targeting families, including parents and close relatives of adolescents. |
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| ISSN: | 1658-8312 1658-8592 |