Abstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders and resulting from deficits in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Insulin therapy is primarily required to attain the recommended goal of blood sugar. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, skills and practices of insulin storage and injection technique of patients. Methods : An interview based cross-sectional study was conducted in conveniently selected participants in Northwest Ethiopian primary hospitals from March, 1, 2019 to May, 30, 2019. Knowledge and practice were measured by administering structured questionnaire with a Likert scale of 1–5 through face-to-face interviews and skills were assessed by five observational (demonstration) techniques from a total of 166 clients. Results: Of the total 166 participants, 54.8% were males and the mean age was 38.46±13.8 years . The overall knowledge (65.4%.) and practice (53.89%) rate on insulin storage and handling techniques were showed moderate knowledge and fair practices. About 94.6% of participants correctly shown insulin injection sites. One-way ANOVA showed that the level of education [F (3, 162) = 7.283, p<0.001], ways of instruction of insulin injection [F (2, 163) =3.32, p = 0.039], insulin therapy duration [F (3,162) = 3.59, p= 0.015] and assessing insulin storage [F (2,163) = 4.45, p = 0.013] had a significant effect on level of knowledge. Similarly, knowledge level [F (2,163) = 14.17, p < 0.001], educational status [F (3,162) = 10.57, p <0.001], occupation type [F (4,161) = 5.43, p <0.001], time since insulin therapy [F (3, 162) = 5.46, p = 0.001] and diagnosis [F (3,162) = 3.36, p= 0.02] had a significant effect on patients’ insulin storage and administration practices. Conclusion: Patient had marginal knowledge and practices on insulin storage and administration techniques. The patients’ skills on the important and critical steps of administrations are poor. The engagements of healthcare professionals and stakeholders should be in developments of instructions and guidelines are very crucial in addition to focusing on educating and changing their wrong perceptions, believes and attitudes towards storage and administering techniques.
Correction to: Insulin Injection Technique in China Compared with the Rest of the World