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Cross-sectional survey on the diabetes knowledge, risk perceptions and practices among university students in South Jordan

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Abstract

Background

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem in Jordan. This study measured the knowledge, risk perception and practice of diabetes in a sample of Jordanian university students. It also explored predictors to the relationship between the KAP sections and each section with the associated characteristics.

Method

A cross-sectional study was carried out in seven university campuses in South Jordan. A total of 3000 participants received and were asked to fill in a self- administered structured questionnaire about their diabetes knowledge, risk perception and practice.

Results

A total of 2158 respondents (1031 male and 1127 females) with ages ranging between 18 and 50 years (97.2% < 30 years) were included in the final analysis. Participants’ scoring was poor in diabetes knowledge (41.9%), moderate (52.5%) in risk perception of diabetes and slightly higher (61.9%) in practice. Prediction of diabetes knowledge included: age, studying health sciences, being in the first or fifth academic year, with a family history of diabetes, overweight and caring for a relative with diabetes. Without a family history of diabetes and caring for a relative with diabetes significantly predicted diabetes risk perception. Diabetes knowledge and caring for a relative with diabetes were the only predictors of diabetes practice.

Conclusion

In spite of the educational status, university students’ level of DM- related knowledge and the perceived risks and practices toward the disease were not adequate. Programs aiming to increase awareness about diabetes for students in all levels and for the general public should be initiated in order to help prevent or delay the occurrence of the disease.

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Funding

This study was funded by Al-Hussein Bin Talal University (grant number 77/2016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Princess Aisha Bint Al Hussein College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nursing Department, Al Hussein Bin Talal University, Maan, Jordan

    Ali M. Khlaifat, Lourance A. Al-Hadid & Rasha S. Dabbour

  2. College of Nursing, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan

    Noordeen Shoqirat

Authors
  1. Ali M. Khlaifat
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  2. Lourance A. Al-Hadid
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  3. Rasha S. Dabbour
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  4. Noordeen Shoqirat
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Correspondence to Ali M. Khlaifat.

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Ethical approval

Ethical approval: All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (scientific research committee at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University + reference number: 6/2016) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Khlaifat, A.M., Al-Hadid, L.A., Dabbour, R.S. et al. Cross-sectional survey on the diabetes knowledge, risk perceptions and practices among university students in South Jordan. J Diabetes Metab Disord 19, 849–858 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-020-00571-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-020-00571-8

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