Assessing the Knowledge and Practices of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Patients Regarding Self-Care Management at a Tertiary-Care Hospital, Rawalakot: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) requires sustained self-care, yet the translation of knowledge into effective daily management remains inconsistent in low-resource settings. Objective: This study assessed the knowledge and self-care practices of adults with T2DM and examined their relationship in a tertiary-care hospital in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional design was employed among 315 patients aged ≥30 years selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected using validated instruments: the 14-item Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ) and 15-item Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ), each scored on a five-point Likert scale. Reliability was confirmed (α = 0.761 and 0.752). Descriptive, correlation, and linear-regression analyses were performed using SPSS v25, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: Participants demonstrated moderate knowledge (mean DKQ = 2.15 ± 0.98) and mixed adherence to self-care (mean DSMQ = 2.84 ± 0.91). Medication compliance was highest (81%), whereas structured glucose recording and risk-screening practices were weakest. Knowledge correlated positively but weakly with self-care (r = 0.157, p = 0.005), explaining 2.5% of behavioural variance. Conclusion: Diabetes knowledge contributes modestly to self-care behaviours in Rawalakot. Strengthening diabetes self-management education with behavioural support, literacy-adapted materials, and regular follow-up could narrow the observed knowledge-practice gap.