Abstract
Background: Insulin is an effective therapeutic agent in the management of diabetes but it is also sensitive to external environment. Consequently, diabetic patients’ adherence to insulin delivery recommendations is critical to its effectiveness. Lack of knowledge, skill, and irrational practices on appropriate insulin delivery techniques can result in therapeutic failure and increased costs of therapy. The 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 to May 30, 2019. Knowledge levels were assessed with right or wrong responses and practice was measured by administering a 4-point Likert scale structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. Finally, a five-point observational (demonstration) techniques checklist assessed patients’ skills. Results: Among 194 patients approached, 166 participants completed the survey with a response rate of 85.6 %. From these participants, 54.8% were males and the mean age was 38.46±13.8 years . The overall patients’ median knowledge and practice levels on insulin storage and handling techniques were moderately adequate (64.3%) and fair (55.4%), respectively. In patients’ skill assessments, 94.6% showed injection sites, 70% indicated injection site rotations, and 60.75% practiced injection site rotations. Education (p<0.001), duration of insulin therapy (p=0.008) and duration of diabetes (p=0.014) had a significant effect on patients’ knowledge level. Education (p<0.001), occupation (p<0.001), duration of insulin therapy (p=0.001), duration of diabetes (p=0.036) and patients’ knowledge levels (p<0.001) were found to have a significant effects on the patients’ practice level. A Mann-Whitney U test also disclosed that residency, ways to get insulin and mocked injection technique during first training had significant effects on patients’ knowledge levels. Conclusion: The current study revealed that patients had moderately adequate knowledge and fair practice levels on insulin storage and handling techniques. Moreover, patients missed important insulin administration skills. Healthcare professionals and stakeholders can play important roles in educating patients thereby improving the knowledge, practice, and administration techniques of patients.
Evaluations of knowledge, skills and practices of insulin storage and injection handling techniques of diabetic patients in Ethiopian primary hospitals
