Attitudinal Disposition and Management Perception among Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Selected Hospitals in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Background: Diabetes mellitus is an emerging metabolic disorder of the 21st century and has continued to attract the attention of health practitioners, as it continues to decrease the efficiency of its victims without any promise of change in the near or far future if more is not done to avert the progressing chronic condition.

Aim: To determine the attitudinal disposition and management perception among diabetics Mellitus patients in selected hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Study Design: The study was a cross sectional survey design guided by a behavioral theory.

Place and Duration of Study: using purposive sampling, the study was carried out among diabetic patient attending University College Hospital, Ring-Road State Hospital and Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Materials and Methodology: A systematic random sampling was used to select 600 out of 2,115 diabetes patients receiving treatment at University College Hospital, Ring-Road State Hospital and Oluyoro Catholic Hospital. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection on respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, attitudinal disposition and management perception. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis.

Results: Mean age of the respondents was 63.9 ± 8.6 years, 75.3% were married and 62.7% were females. Majority (94.0%) of the respondents had a positive attitude towards compliance with management of DM. Majority (91.5%) were of the attitude that it is not necessary for people living with DM to do regular exercise as exercise will not make them to breakdown and 97.0% were of the attitude that diabetic patients cannot take any amount of alcohol beverages he/she wants. Respondents’ mean perception score was 21.8 ± 4.8 and 69.2% had a positive perception to management of DM. most (69.2%) of the respondents were of the perception that DM is a lifelong disease and can only be controlled but cannot be cured.

Conclusion: Many of the respondents had appropriate perceptions needed to cope with the disease. However, the positive attitude sustenance demonstrated by the respondent should be promoted if compliance with the management of DM must be ensured.