Knowledge and Attitude on Insulin Self-Administration among Type 1 Diabetic Patients at Metu Karl Referral Hospital, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. It is a public health problem as the disease is epidemic in both developed and developing counties. Knowledge and attitude of patients regarding insulin self-administration could lead to better management of diabetes and eventually a good quality of life. Despite this, the evidence that showed the knowledge and attitude on insulin self-administration is a substantial deficiency in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and associated factors on insulin self-administration among type 1 diabetic patients at Metu Karl Referral Hospital, Ethiopia, in 2019. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among systematically selected 245 type 1 diabetic patients at Metu Karl Referral Hospital, Ethiopia, in January 2019. The data were collected through a face-to-face interview. The collected data were entered using EpiData version 4.2.0.0, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS version 20. A binary logistic regression model was used. Independent variables with a P value of less than 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression model were considered significant. RESULTS: Out of 242 type 1 diabetic patients interviewed, 93 (38.4%, 95% CI (32.3%-44.5%)) had good knowledge and 50 (20.7%, 95% CI (15.6%-25.8%)) had favorable attitude on insulin self-administration. The study also found that being unmarried (AOR = 3.59, 95% CI (1.15-11.3), P = 0.028), increased educational level (AOR = 3.02, 95% CI (1.36-6.74), P = 0.007), and more years of treatment (AOR = 3.70, 95% CI (1.16-11.8), P = 0.027) were factors associated with good knowledge on insulin self-administration, whereas being a member of DM association (AOR = 3.57, 95% CI (1.66-7.69), P = 0.001) was the only factor associated with favorable attitude on insulin self-administration. CONCLUSION: The knowledge and attitude on insulin self-administration among type 1 diabetic patients were substantially low. Diabetes and insulin self-administration education should be imparted by health professionals at each follow-up visit. Besides, strengthening of information, education, and communication (IEC) on the issue of diabetes and insulin self-administration using mass media (television/radio) plays paramount importance.