KNOWLEDGE OF DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS AND PRACTICE OF ROUTINE MEDICAL CHECK-UP AMONG DIABETICS (>10 YEARS) IN THE FIELD PRACTICE AREA OF GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE, AMRITSAR

Context: Awareness about diabetic complications and regular medical check-up are essential for prevention, early detection and treatment of diabetic complications. Aims & Objectives: 1. To assess the knowledge about diabetes complications among diabetic patients (>10 years). 2. To evaluate the practices of routine medical check –up among Diabetics (>10 years). Settings and Design: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural and urban field practice areas of Government Medical College, Amritsar. Methods and Material: A total of 200 diabetic patients who had diabetes equal to or more than 10 years of duration were interviewed using pretested and predesigned questionnaire Statistical analysis used: Data such collected were analyzed and Chi-square/ Yates correction was used to know the level of significance at P < 0.05. Results: Out of 200 respondents, 50% (100/200) were from urban area and 50% (100/200) were from the rural area. In both urban and rural areas, majority were literate and unemployed. The mean age of diabetic respondents was 61.08 years with a male to female ratio of 1.1:0.9. 44.5%(89) of the respondents were aware of diabetic complications(P<0.05).92%(82), 89%(79), and 73%(65) of respondents had good knowledge about complications of Eye, Kidney and cardiac disease while respondents knowledge of Stroke and Nephropathy was inadequate i.e. 28%(25),47% (42) respectively. Only 25% (51) had followed definite routine for examination ,Out of which 61%(31) were doing health check up every 3 monthly and 27%(14) were doing every 6 monthly and 6(12%) were doing every yearly(P<0.05). Conclusions: The practice of regular medical check-up was poor among diabetic patients, and this may be due to inadequate knowledge about specific diabetic complications.