A Survey Report of Perceptions of Needs and Self- Management Capacity Among Diabetic Patients in Selected Rural Villages in Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Understanding the needs of rural diabetic patients in managing diabetes mellitus (DM) is now of foremost importance to control DM equitably in India. Objective: A needs assessment regarding the awareness of diabetes and capacity for self management among a group of diabetic patients as a pilot study to develop content for home based health education material. Design: A cross-sectional study using a quantitative approach. Setting: 3 rural villages in Kattankulathur Block of Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu, India. Participants: 30 patients who had been undergoing treatment for DM selected by Convenience sampling. Results: Overall 72.5% of diabetic patients are motivated to have knowledge and refer to it to manage DM on their own. 66.67% of diabetic patients believe that DM is manageable in terms of self-testing, selfweighing, and physical exercise when combined with routine medicine. However, 52.50% of diabetic patients is conscious of barriers to self-management including time to go to hospital, money for treatment, dietary change and access to advice about exercise. Overall 64.17% of patients perceived a need for or benefit from professional guidance. Conclusion: It has been concluded that rural diabetic patients in India are highly Motivated to gain knowledge about self-managing DM and establish a management plan; they are also confident to varying degrees in their ability to self-manage. They strongly favored professional guidance and peer support. Based on the study findings an intervention strategy for home-based care was developed using a nurse as the main agent.