DESIGNING A QUESTIONNAIRE TO EVALUATE DIABETIC PATIENTS KNOWLEDGE OF RAMADAN FASTING AND ITS DETERMINANT FACTORS

Fasting in diabetic patients is accompanied by various changes in metabolism, lifestyle and medication. Evaluation of diabetic patients’ knowledge in the field of fasting conditions, the fasting-induced changes, complications, and ways to deal with them, is the first step towards efficient and effective diabetes self-management training in Ramadan fasting. The purpose of this study was to design a valid and reliable questionnaire on fasting knowledge of diabetic patients and evaluate the knowledge and determinant factors in diabetic patients. In this study a questionnaire on diabetic patient’s awareness was designed in 5 sections: 1- fasting conditions in patients with diabetes (fasting status of diabetic patients), 2- drug use, 3- controlling of blood glucose, 4- physical activity and 5- diabetic diet in Ramadan. Validity and reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient=0.79) of the questionnaire was confirmed. In a cross-sectional study, the fasting knowledge of 200 diabetic patients of Diabetes and Metabolic disorders clinic were examined, before Ramadan 2012. The association between the knowledge and patients’ age, sex, weight, diabetes duration, educational levels, Ramadan fasting group education, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c and type of diabetes were evaluated. The mean of total correct answers were 46% with the highest scores in dietary information (62.5%) and lowest in physical activity (18%) and drug use (23%). Significant positive association was found between total and each part scores with patients’ educational level. Also group of participating in the Ramadan fasting education study and group of non- participating, showed significant difference in response to questions. Findings of this study revealed (indicated) poor fasting knowledge in diabetic patients. Educational programs before Ramadan can increase awareness and could improve self-management of diabetic patients during Ramadan fasting and decrease complications.