Recognition of diabetes and sociodemographic predictors: results of a cross-sectional nationwide population-based survey in Singapore

OBJECTIVE: To assess recognition of diabetes among a nationally representative multiethnic sample of Singapore’s general public. Also, to explore the sociodemographic predictors associated with the ability to correctly recognise diabetes. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional vignette-based survey. Respondents were instructed to read the vignette, then answer the open-ended question, ‘What do you think the person in the vignette is suffering from?’ PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 2895 household residents aged 18 years and above, of which 436 were persons with diabetes. RESULTS: 82.7% could correctly recognise diabetes in the vignette. Overall, recognition was significantly higher among respondents aged 35–49 years (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.98), 50–64 years (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.19 to 3.56), ethnic Malays (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.89) and persons with diabetes (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.38 to 5.08). By contrast, male (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.90), ethnic Others (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.93) and the unemployed (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.92) were significantly associated with poor recognition of diabetes. CONCLUSION: Overall public recognition of diabetes was high, but the significant gaps in knowledge in certain demographic groups were of concern. Public health interventions aimed at preventing and controlling diabetes should continue to target all members of the population with accurate and appropriate information. Ongoing efforts of diabetes awareness and screening programmes need to be improved, particularly for young adults, males and the unemployed.