Exploring Awareness Levels of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Risk Among Patients with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a critical complication of diabetes mellitus, posing significant health. While global studies have indicated a concerning lack of awareness regarding DKA among patients with diabetes, research specific to the northern area of S...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elhassan Hussein Eltom, Abdulrahman Omar A. Alali, Rakan Khalid Marzouq Alanazi, Ali Ahmad M. Alanazi, Meshal Ahmed Abdullah Albalawi, Saud Alraydh N. Alanazi, Mansour Sarhan G. Alanazi, Abdelnaser A. Badawy, Naglaa Mokhtar, Manal S. Fawzy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Clinics and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/14/6/211
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846105202040504320
author Elhassan Hussein Eltom
Abdulrahman Omar A. Alali
Rakan Khalid Marzouq Alanazi
Ali Ahmad M. Alanazi
Meshal Ahmed Abdullah Albalawi
Saud Alraydh N. Alanazi
Mansour Sarhan G. Alanazi
Abdelnaser A. Badawy
Naglaa Mokhtar
Manal S. Fawzy
author_facet Elhassan Hussein Eltom
Abdulrahman Omar A. Alali
Rakan Khalid Marzouq Alanazi
Ali Ahmad M. Alanazi
Meshal Ahmed Abdullah Albalawi
Saud Alraydh N. Alanazi
Mansour Sarhan G. Alanazi
Abdelnaser A. Badawy
Naglaa Mokhtar
Manal S. Fawzy
author_sort Elhassan Hussein Eltom
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a critical complication of diabetes mellitus, posing significant health. While global studies have indicated a concerning lack of awareness regarding DKA among patients with diabetes, research specific to the northern area of Saudi Arabia remains limited. This study aims to explore the level of knowledge and awareness of DKA among patients with diabetes residing in the local region. <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted utilizing a non-probability convenient sampling technique, with 339 participants recruited from March to August 2024. Data were gathered through a self-administered pre-validated questionnaire distributed via different social media platforms to assess demographic characteristics and awareness levels relating to DKA, including knowledge of its symptoms, causes, and treatment options. <b>Results</b>: Although there was moderate awareness of DKA, with 68.4% having heard of the condition, two-thirds of the participants exhibited significant gaps in overall knowledge. Among those aware, 76.3% recognized DKA as an emergency requiring immediate medical intervention. At the same time, 64.6% understood the causes of DKA, and only 25.6% identified insulin deficiency as a major contributing factor. Although 62.5% felt knowledgeable about treatment, 66.0% incorrectly identified oral sugar as a DKA treatment. Notably, 30.1% cited social media as their main information source. Age emerged as an essential factor impacting knowledge, with younger participants (ages 18–30) demonstrating higher awareness than older individuals. Additionally, single participants displayed a higher percentage of good knowledge than married participants (<i>p</i> = 0.000). Non-working individuals showed better overall knowledge about DKA (<i>p</i> = 0.002). The duration of diabetes did not show a significant association with knowledge levels about DKA across the various duration categories. <b>Conclusions</b>: The present findings underscore a substantial knowledge gap concerning DKA among the local community, highlighting a critical need for targeted public health educational interventions.
format Article
id doaj-art-4d5c2451a4204a54bd20f6190630f8e5
institution Kabale University
issn 2039-7283
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Clinics and Practice
spelling doaj-art-4d5c2451a4204a54bd20f6190630f8e52024-12-27T14:18:37ZengMDPI AGClinics and Practice2039-72832024-12-011462681269210.3390/clinpract14060211Exploring Awareness Levels of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Risk Among Patients with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional StudyElhassan Hussein Eltom0Abdulrahman Omar A. Alali1Rakan Khalid Marzouq Alanazi2Ali Ahmad M. Alanazi3Meshal Ahmed Abdullah Albalawi4Saud Alraydh N. Alanazi5Mansour Sarhan G. Alanazi6Abdelnaser A. Badawy7Naglaa Mokhtar8Manal S. Fawzy9Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi ArabiaEndocrinology Department, North Medical Tower of Northern Border Region, Arar 73241, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi ArabiaCenter for Health Research, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi Arabia<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a critical complication of diabetes mellitus, posing significant health. While global studies have indicated a concerning lack of awareness regarding DKA among patients with diabetes, research specific to the northern area of Saudi Arabia remains limited. This study aims to explore the level of knowledge and awareness of DKA among patients with diabetes residing in the local region. <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted utilizing a non-probability convenient sampling technique, with 339 participants recruited from March to August 2024. Data were gathered through a self-administered pre-validated questionnaire distributed via different social media platforms to assess demographic characteristics and awareness levels relating to DKA, including knowledge of its symptoms, causes, and treatment options. <b>Results</b>: Although there was moderate awareness of DKA, with 68.4% having heard of the condition, two-thirds of the participants exhibited significant gaps in overall knowledge. Among those aware, 76.3% recognized DKA as an emergency requiring immediate medical intervention. At the same time, 64.6% understood the causes of DKA, and only 25.6% identified insulin deficiency as a major contributing factor. Although 62.5% felt knowledgeable about treatment, 66.0% incorrectly identified oral sugar as a DKA treatment. Notably, 30.1% cited social media as their main information source. Age emerged as an essential factor impacting knowledge, with younger participants (ages 18–30) demonstrating higher awareness than older individuals. Additionally, single participants displayed a higher percentage of good knowledge than married participants (<i>p</i> = 0.000). Non-working individuals showed better overall knowledge about DKA (<i>p</i> = 0.002). The duration of diabetes did not show a significant association with knowledge levels about DKA across the various duration categories. <b>Conclusions</b>: The present findings underscore a substantial knowledge gap concerning DKA among the local community, highlighting a critical need for targeted public health educational interventions.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/14/6/211DKAdiabetes type 1diabetes type 2awarenessNorthern Borders region
spellingShingle Elhassan Hussein Eltom
Abdulrahman Omar A. Alali
Rakan Khalid Marzouq Alanazi
Ali Ahmad M. Alanazi
Meshal Ahmed Abdullah Albalawi
Saud Alraydh N. Alanazi
Mansour Sarhan G. Alanazi
Abdelnaser A. Badawy
Naglaa Mokhtar
Manal S. Fawzy
Exploring Awareness Levels of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Risk Among Patients with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
Clinics and Practice
DKA
diabetes type 1
diabetes type 2
awareness
Northern Borders region
title Exploring Awareness Levels of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Risk Among Patients with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Exploring Awareness Levels of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Risk Among Patients with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Exploring Awareness Levels of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Risk Among Patients with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Awareness Levels of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Risk Among Patients with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Exploring Awareness Levels of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Risk Among Patients with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort exploring awareness levels of diabetic ketoacidosis risk among patients with diabetes a cross sectional study
topic DKA
diabetes type 1
diabetes type 2
awareness
Northern Borders region
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/14/6/211
work_keys_str_mv AT elhassanhusseineltom exploringawarenesslevelsofdiabeticketoacidosisriskamongpatientswithdiabetesacrosssectionalstudy
AT abdulrahmanomaraalali exploringawarenesslevelsofdiabeticketoacidosisriskamongpatientswithdiabetesacrosssectionalstudy
AT rakankhalidmarzouqalanazi exploringawarenesslevelsofdiabeticketoacidosisriskamongpatientswithdiabetesacrosssectionalstudy
AT aliahmadmalanazi exploringawarenesslevelsofdiabeticketoacidosisriskamongpatientswithdiabetesacrosssectionalstudy
AT meshalahmedabdullahalbalawi exploringawarenesslevelsofdiabeticketoacidosisriskamongpatientswithdiabetesacrosssectionalstudy
AT saudalraydhnalanazi exploringawarenesslevelsofdiabeticketoacidosisriskamongpatientswithdiabetesacrosssectionalstudy
AT mansoursarhangalanazi exploringawarenesslevelsofdiabeticketoacidosisriskamongpatientswithdiabetesacrosssectionalstudy
AT abdelnaserabadawy exploringawarenesslevelsofdiabeticketoacidosisriskamongpatientswithdiabetesacrosssectionalstudy
AT naglaamokhtar exploringawarenesslevelsofdiabeticketoacidosisriskamongpatientswithdiabetesacrosssectionalstudy
AT manalsfawzy exploringawarenesslevelsofdiabeticketoacidosisriskamongpatientswithdiabetesacrosssectionalstudy