Inclusion Criteria Exclusion Criteria

175 Improving Knowledge Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients On Oral Hypoglycaemic Agents Cross sectional study for baseline data n = 300 Duration: 1 month November 2006 Venue: Hospital and health clinics While patients waiting for their turn at dispensary Development of intervention package comprising of: 1. guideline for health-care provider 2. medication explanation checklist 3. pamphlets 4. OHA charts 5. reminder stickers for the particular medicine envelope Duration: 2 weeks Training of healthcare providers to get familiarized with intervention package Duration: 2 weeks Cross sectional study Post-intervention 1 n = 150 Duration: 1 month May 2007 Data analysis hospital n = 150 Implementation of intervention packages hospital Duration: 8 months January – August 2007 Implementation of intervention packages health clinics Duration: 8 months January – August 2007 Data analysis health clinics n = 150 Cross sectional study Post-intervention 1 n = 150 Duration: 1 month May 2007 Cross sectional study Post-intervention 2 n = 150 Duration: 1 month August 2007 Cross sectional study Post-intervention 2 n = 150 Duration: 1 month August 2007 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Figure 2. Flow chart of study design 176 Improving Knowledge Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients On Oral Hypoglycaemic Agents Figure 3. Flow of patient movement from registration until dispensary during intervention programme Patient came to clinic Registration counter: All type 2 diabetic patients on OHA were identified, checklist were given, and patients were instructed to ask doctors during consultation to explain to them according to checklist Dispensary: Pharmacists or pharmacy assistants explained to patients and checklist were filled in accordingly, respective stickers were pasted on respective medication envelopes accordingly, and the completed checklists were collected back from prescription slip for auditing purposes Consultation room: Points in checklist were explained to patients using pamphlets and OHA chart and checklist were filled in accordingly, checklist then stapled together Patients went home

4.3 Sample Size and sampling method

The calculated sample size was 300 after taking into account 20 drop out. Sample size was calculated using Epicalc 2000 using two proportions based on 90 power at a significance level of 0.05, with expected increment in knowledge of 15 50 to 65. The calculated sample size was for both before and after the intervention. Sampling method was convenient sampling.

4.4 Variables

Variables used in this study are listed in Table 2.

4.5 Data collection techniques

Data were collected through a set of standardized structured questionnaire. This questionnaire was designed to gain demographic data and to assess patients’ knowledge on OHA for baseline data and post intervention. This questionnaire comprised of two sections. The first section inquired about patients’ socio- demographic background such as sex, age, and ethnicity and so on. The second section of the questionnaire comprised of seven questions pertaining patients’ 177 Improving Knowledge Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients On Oral Hypoglycaemic Agents 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