Assesment on patient’s knowledge on oral antidiabetic drug among type II diabetic patient in HUSM

Background. The major treatments for diabetes usually require insulin with or without oral hypoglycemic agents which should be continuously measure and adjust as well as monitoring for side effects. Patients should be well educated and motivated by their caregivers on monitoring blood glucose level, control food consumption and participate in self-care management as well as the correct way of taking their medicine. These treatments allow patients to minimize the chronic complication of diabetes such as microvascular or macrovascular disease that as well as to improve patients’ quality of life. Thus, this research is conducted to know the knowledge about the usage of oral antidiabetic agents among type II diabetic patients in Diabetic Clinic in HUSM and to improve their knowledge on oral antidiabetic drug.

Objectives. This study was conducted to study on patient’s understanding and experience of oral antidiabetic drugs. It is also to excess patient’s knowledge. Plus, it is also to study drug wastage due to improper management.

Methodology. This research was performed at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan. 50 respondents were conveniently selected from Diabetic Clinic. Patients age should be among 18 year old and above. This study focused on patients that take oral antidiabetic drugs. The data collection was started on 1st January 2010 until 28th February 2010.

Result. In this study, about 50% of the respondents have high level of knowledge about their medicine. Very poor management of the medicine was found in smaller proportion of the respondents. Only 4% of them did not understand about their oral antidiabetic agents and 18% of them prone to waste the drug by throwing away. Middle aged patients more likely to have good management of their oral hypoglycemic agents.

Conclusion. Most of the respondents appear to understand about their medicines. Most of them comply to the prescribed medicines and know well about tips on good handling of taking the medicine. Although the number of the positive response are still not satisfied, it may have had more positive effect on the management of Diabetes Mellitus.