Investigation of the Knowledge of Nursing Students and Nursing Assistants' Students on Diabetes Mellitus II and its Prevention

• Published in: International journal of caring sciences Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 1837 - 1849
• Main Authors: Anastasiou, Victoria, Tsaloglidou, Areti, Minasidou, Evgenia, Kafkia, Theodora, Koukourikos, Konstantinos, Kourkouta, Lamprini, Dimitriadou, Alexandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nicosia Professor Despina Sapountzi - Krepia Publisher of the International Journal of Caring Sciences 01.09.2019
• Subjects: Cardiovascular disease; Curricula; Diabetes; Diet; Disease prevention; Epidemics; Exercise; Health care; Knowledge; Life expectancy; Lifestyles; Medical personnel; Metabolic disorders; Nurses; Nursing education; Pandemics; Physical fitness; Population; Public health; Students; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US
• ISSN: 1791-5201; 1792-037X

Introduction Diabetes Mellitus type II (DM II) is a chronic metabolic disorder that is a global public health problem. The knowledge of young people studying nursing towards DM II are key factors in controlling the disease outbreak. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the knowledge of Nursing students and Nursing assistants' students about the DM II and its prevention and to identify the factors that affect the disease. Population and Method This is a thorough study of the current time. The population of this study consisted of 269 young people studying nursing who were asked to answer 62 questions of a questionnaire which investigated the general understanding of diabetes II. The general perception scale consists of three sub-scales: the sub-scale of DM II knowledge, the sub-scale of knowledge concerning the predisposing factors of diabetes II and the sub-scale of attitudes towards Diabetes II. The results of the first two pre-mentioned sub-scales are presented in this piece of work. The questions were planned so as to be answered through a Likert type fourgrade scale. Results The level of perception of the investigated population pertaining to the dimensions of this disease was high. (Average 99,24). Women, older students, people who were aware of the Mediterranean diet and followed it and those who did not often consume processed food exhibited a better understanding. More extensively, the average agreement with the propositions which constitute every sub-scale of the general understanding were: the sub-scale of knowledge concerning Diabetes II 36,71 and the sub-scale of knowledge concerning the predisposition factors of diabetes II 41,03. Conclusions The students' level of knowledge concerning Diabetes II and its prevention can be characterized as quite high with certain deficits in some fields. The nursing students are the future health professionals and their program of studies must place emphasis on their knowledge deficits, modifying the curriculum so as to aim at the needs of the people who suffer from Diabetes II.