Egyptian Adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)'s information-Seeking Behaviour

What is it about?

This study purposes to investigate the information-seeking behavior of Egyptian adult patients with T2DM. A survey in the form of a semi-structured questionnaire was used. The study included 311 Egyptian adult patients with T2DM. Demographically, slightly more than half of the patients were males, older, educated, with an average monthly income ranging from 3501 to 4000 EGP, and were mostly married, representing a diverse range of professions. The patients accessed Diabetes-related information from their own homes, followed by visits to hospitals. This information is used moderately on a daily basis. The majority stated that the most important needs they have are information about the causes of diabetes, diet, diabetic exercise, and diabetic complications. Diabetes-related booklets/brochures/bulletins were the most popular printed sources among patients, followed by magazines/newspapers. The Internet/Web and social media were the most popular non-printed sources. Discussions with diabetic family members, diabetic relatives, and other diabetic patients were also used as personal/interpersonal sources. Patients were more interested in laboratory reports, doctor’s notes, and nurse’s notes. Privacy violations, a lack of understanding of information due to scientific terms, psychological issues, a lack of basic infrastructure, and a lack of health care providers were identified as significant barriers.

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Why is it important?

This study, the first of its kind, investigates DM from an informational standpoint, with a focus on Egypt. There is an urgent need to conduct research on such patients’ information behaviour toward diabetes in terms of their perceptions, concerns, needs, habits, methods, tools, and the challenges they face during their treatment journey with this chronic disease.

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