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Table 5 Knowledge of type 2 diabetes mellitus (by chronic disease)

From: Health knowledge and self-efficacy to make health behaviour changes: a survey of older adults living in Ontario social housing

Outcomes

Population

Knowledge question

Response

All respondents

n = 599

With Heart Disease

n = 171

With Hypertension

n = 326

With High Cholesterol

n = 227

Had a Stroke

n = 77

With Diabetes

n = 165

To reduce the risk of diabetes you need to eat well and exercise regularly

Correct (%)

563 (94.0)

157 (91.8)

309 (94.8)

216 (95.2)

71 (92.2)

157 (95.2)

You are at risk of developing diabetes if you are obese

Correct (%)

515 (86.0)

147 (86.0)

292 (89.6)

199 (87.7)

68 (88.3)

148 (89.7)

People who have family members with diabetes have an increased risk of developing diabetes

Correct (%)

472 (78.8)

132 (77.2)

264 (81.0)

181 (79.7)

63 (81.8)

146 (88.5)

Diabetes is a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes

Correct (%)

450 (75.1)

132 (77.2)

252 (77.3)

177 (78.0)

63 (81.8)

141 (85.5)

Diabetes becomes more common as people get older

Correct (%)

417 (69.6)

120 (70.2)

234 (71.8)

161 (70.9)

58 (75.3)

128 (77.6)

Diabetes can be cured

Correct (%)

266 (44.4)

72 (42.1)

149 (45.7)

109 (48.0)

39 (50.6)

67 (40.6)

Eating too much sugar and other sweet foods is a cause of diabetes

Correct (%)

198 (33.1)

54 (31.6)

100 (30.7)

70 (30.8)

33 (42.9)

65 (39.4)

Diabetes can cause other serious health problems

Correct (%)

62 (27.0)

49 (28.7)

83 (25.5)

56 (24.7)

28 (36.4)

47 (28.5)

Total DM Score (out of total possible 8 points)

Mean (SD)

5.08 (1.48)

5.05 (1.49)

5.16 (1.48)

5.15 (1.42)

5.49 (1.47)

5.44 (1.21)

Total Knowledge Score (out of total possible 19 points)

Mean (SD)

13.67 (2.80)

13.88 (2.70)

14.08 (2.58)

14.09 (2.44)

14.33 (2.45)

14.23 (2.54)

  1. Less than 2% of responses were missing for each question