Original Article
Volume: 35 | Issue: 1 | Published: Mar 21, 2019 | Pages: 12 - 19
Oral Health Awareness in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Survey-Based Questionnaire Study from Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Asad R , Christopher M , Noor M , Dawood H.M , Muneer M.U , Ishaq Y
Article Info
Authors
Asad R
Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, Akhter Saeed Medical and Dental College, Lahore- Pakistan.
Christopher M
Punjab Dental Hospital, Lahore - Pakistan.
Noor M
Department of Oral Medicine, Fatima Memorial College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore - Pakistan.
Dawood H.M
Department of Community Medicine, Sahara Medical College, Narowal- Pakistan
Muneer M.U
Department of Prosthodontics, Avicenna Medical and Dental College, Lahore – Pakistan.
Ishaq Y
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Akhter Saeed Medical and Dental College, Lahore - Pakistan.
Publication History
Received: October 20, 2018
Revised: December 10, 2018
Accepted: March 09, 2019
Published: March 21, 2019
Abstract
Background and Objective: Pakistan has the seventh highest prevalence of diabetes worldwide. Self-care practices play a substantial role in the management of type 2 diabetes and in avoiding associated com-plications. Socio-demographics and knowledge directly affect self-care practices among patients. This study was conducted to assess self-care practices and determine their association with sociodemographic factors among patients with type 2 diabetes in Lahore, Pakistan. In addition, oral health awareness was also assessed among the study participants.
Methods: A purposive sample of 402 patients with type 2 diabetes was selected for this analytical study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire to collect the data. Information was collected regarding sociodemographic variables, clinical factors, oral health awareness, and self-care practices related to diabetes management. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were calculated for continuous data.
Categorical variables were analysed using the Chi-square test.
Results: None of the standardized self-care practices of diabetes were observed to be adhered by all patients. For example, only 29.90% of study participants reported checking their feet daily. Sociodemographic factors of gender, educational level, marital status, and income were associated with adherence to self-care practices among patients with diabetes. Patients were least aware (36.30%) of the need to have regular dental check-ups at least two times a year to ensure good oral health
Conclusion: Self‑care practices as well as the oral health care of patients with diabetes are affected by various sociodemographic indicators. Clinically, this information can be applied to design and target education and care planning amongst patients with type 2 diabetes. Providing special attention to patients with diabetes would allow for the provision of realistic recommendations regarding self-care.
Keywords: Self-care practices, Oral health, Type 2 diabetes, Developing countries, Pakistan.
