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The ADKnowl: identifying knowledge deficits in diabetes care

journal contribution
posted on 2001-08-01, 00:00 authored by Jane SpeightJane Speight, C Bradley
Aims To present the ADKnowl measure of diabetes-related knowledge and evaluate its use in identifying the nature and extent of patient and health professional knowledge deficits.

Method The ADKnowl was used in a large-scale study of 789 patients (451 treated with insulin and 338 treated with tablets and/or diet) attending for annual review at one of two hospital out-patient diabetes clinics

Results Knowledge deficits were apparent in the patients. For example, 57% did not recognize the inaccuracy of the statement `fresh fruit can be eaten freely with little effect on blood glucose levels'. Seventy-five percent of patients did not know that it is advisable to trim toenails to the shape of the toe. Knowledge deficits were identified for many other areas of diabetes management, e.g. prevention of hypoglycaemia, avoidance of ketoacidosis. Sixteen health professionals at the clinics answered the same items. Contrary to recommendations, 25% of health professionals thought that fresh fruit could be eaten freely. Seventy-five percent of health professionals did not know the current recommendations for trimming toenails. As expected, HbA1c did correlate with scores from two specific items, while HbA1c did not correlate with summed ADKnowl score.

Conclusions Patient knowledge deficits were identified. Some specific knowledge deficits among health professionals may be the cause of some patient knowledge deficits. The ADKnowl is a useful tool in assessing both patient and health professional knowledge deficits and is available for use in a context of continuing evaluation.

History

Journal

Diabetic medicine

Volume

18

Issue

8

Pagination

626 - 633

Publisher

Wiley - Blackwell Publishing

Location

Chichester, England

ISSN

0742-3071

eISSN

1464-5491

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2001, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing

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