Public Knowledge and Attitude Towards Hypoglycaemia in Patients with Diabetes in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: 2018

Volume : VII, Issue : VIII, August - 2018

Alaa A. Al Safwani, Salma M. Al Sulaiman, Abdullah Al Sayigh, Nada A. Al Bunaian

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major public health concern worldwide and is associated with possibly fatal complications, including hypoglycaemia.

DM is prevalent in Saudi Arabia, but public knowledge about hypoglycaemia has not been investigated. This study aimed to assess the level of

knowledge and attitude towards hypoglycaemic events among the general Saudi population. A cross–sectional study was conducted among adults

aged older than 18 years in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through a self–administered questionnaire distributed in

social media platforms. A total of 2208 respondents were included in the study. Of them, only 25% had sufficient knowledge score, but most

participants (79%) had a positive attitude towards providing help to the hypoglycaemic individual. The level of knowledge about hypoglycaemia is

insufficient among Saudis, but the majority has a positive attitude towards helping individuals during a hypoglycaemic event. A national

continuous health education program to improve knowledge on DM is needed.