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Table 2. Variables used in this study Variables
Description Measuring Scale
Age of patient Number of completed years of study
Years Sex
Biological status of reproductive role as stated in identification card
Male Female
Race Ethnicity status based on paternal
side Malay
Chinese Indian
Educational level
The highest level of education achieved by respondents
No formal education Primary education
Lower secondary education Higher secondary education
Tertiary education or higher
Co- morbidities
Other physiological or functional illness such as hypertension, asthma,
etc How many type
Duration of OHA usage
Duration from the year OHA was started until year of study done
Years
Knowledge Respondents’ knowledge regarding
their medications : i.
knowledge regarding name of OHA used
ii. knowledge regarding physical
characteristic of OHA used iii.
knowledge regarding dosage of OHA used
iv. knowledge regarding how many
tablets and frequency of the tablet to be taken daily
v. knowledge regarding time of
OHA to be taken vi.
knowledge regarding steps to be taken if miss medication
vii. knowledge regarding side effect of medications
Answer correct = 1 score Answer wrong = 0 score
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Intervention package developed 1-15 December 2006
Training of healthcare providers to get familiarized with intervention package
16-31 December 2006
Post-intervention 1 P1 Cross sectional study
n = 106 May 2007
Baseline Data: Hospital
Cross sectional Study n = 150
Hospital
Implementation of intervention Duration: 8 months
January – August 2007
Post-intervention 2 P2 Cross sectional study
n = 151 August 2007
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Baseline Data: Health Clinics
Cross sectional Study n = 152
Health Clinics
Implementation of intervention Duration: 8 months
January – August 2007
Post-intervention 1 P1 Cross sectional study
n = 70 May 2007
Post-intervention 2 P2 Cross sectional study
n = 93 August 2007
Figure 3. Overall result of study
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OHAs. Pilot studies of 10 questionnaires were used for pre-testing. Face-to-face interview technique was conducted by trained interviewers mainly pharmacists and
staff nurses to gain information needed. This is the best method so far internationally since apart from collecting data, it also intervenes. It is well accepted like what was
done in 2004, a meta-regression to analyze which variable within an education intervention that best explained variance in glycaemic control revealed interventions
which included a face-to-face delivery cognitive reframing teaching method were more likely have greater effect Ellis SE et al 2004.
4.6 Ethical issues
There is no ethical concern in this study. Before starting the program, we get a written approval from Director of Hospital and Medical Officer of Health clinic in
District of Hilir Perak. Before starting the interview, verbal consent were taken from patients. Respondents’ information will be kept confidential together with hisher
current medical records in the clinics, accessible to only medical personnel involved and researchers only.
5.0 RESULTS
5.1 Overview of the study
This study took place in outpatient department of Hospital Teluk Intan Hospital and three health clinics Health. Figure 3 shows flow of the study.
5.1.1 Comparison between hospital and health clinics baseline data
Before analysis of socio-demographic factors, in general, our baseline population showed major lacking in knowledge area of dosage, name, and
side effects. However, at the end of this study, it was found that these three areas improved drastically in knowledge on side effects of OHA. However,
because of the demographic differences in hospital and health which will be further explained below, the figures were statistically not valid since it
did not reflect the true distribution of sample.
Table 3 showed distribution of data for socio-demographic characteristic. A number of 302 patients involved in baseline data collection which was
held on November 2006, where 150 patients were from hospital and 152 from health clinic. This table showed that there were significant difference
between hospital and health clinics in term of age, ethnicity and clinical profile duration of illness and number of co-morbidity.
Distribution of age was larger in hospital compare to health clinic, probably due to larger population come to hospital to get treatment, rather than
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health clinic. In health clinic, patients were limited to those who live nearby the clinic and those who on regular follow up.
Malay and Chinese showed significant difference in choosing between hospital and health clinic. More Malay came to health clinic rather than
hospital, whereas more Chinese came to hospital rather than health clinic.
Clinical profile of patients also showed significant difference between hospital and health clinic. Duration of the illness was categorized into 3
group; less than 5 years, 6-10 years and more than 11 years. For less than 5 years group and more than 11 years group, there was significant difference
in choosing between hospital and health clinic. More patients came to health clinic in the less than 5 years group whereas in the more than 11 years
group more patients came to hospital. Patients who came to hospital have more morbidity rather than who came to health clinic, only have diabetes
mellitus.
Therefore, these two centers will be further commented separately.
5.1.2 Socio-demographic data and clinical profile of patients in hospital
population A total 150 patients involved in baseline data collection, 106 in post-
intervention 1P1 and 151 in post-intervention 2 P2. Statistically there were no significant different between baseline and both two post-intervention in
term of gender, education level and number of co-morbidities. There was a significant difference in mean age in P2 compared to baseline patients. In
term of ethnicity, Indian patients made a significant increase in P2. Patients who suffered from diabetes mellitus for less than 5 years made a significant
increase in both P1 and P2. Patients on single OHA were found statistically significant drop during P2 sampling. As a summary we can see gender,
educational level and number of co-morbidities have not affected the knowledge of the patients in Hospital Teluk Intan.
5.1.3 Socio-demographic data and clinical profile of patients in health
clinics population A total 152 patients involved in baseline data collection, 70 in post-
intervention 1P1 and 93 in post-intervention 2 P2. Statistically there were no significant difference between baseline and both two post-
intervention in term of mean age, gender, education level and number of OHA consumed. In term of ethnicity, similarly with hospital, Indians patients
showed significant drop in P2 samples. However, there was significant
