Public awareness about diabetes: cross sectional study of Lithuania’s residents

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a growing health problem globally; however, awareness about diabetes remains low. Aim: To assess the public perception of diabetes – how much does the public know about it? What are the beliefs about this challenging issue? Methods: A public opinion survey was performed in April 2012. Interviews with a random sample of 1,002 residents of Lithuania aged 16–74 were conducted in the households of the respondents. This sample took into account age, sex, education, employment, family status, and the size of the residential location. The topics covered by the 15-item questionnaire used for these interviews concerned the perceived severity of different health conditions and the respondents’ knowledge of diabetes risk factors and normal glycemic indicators as well as their perceptions related to diabetes and insulin. Results: More than half (56.3%) of respondents had previously undergone the glycemic control test, 33.8% of study participants were familiar with the normal parameters of glycemia. Diabetes was ranked fourth among 13 health problems (the top three were attributed to malignancies, AIDS and mental illnesses). The highest score of all risk factors for developing diabetes was attributed to obesity; however, obesity was never mentioned in associating with diabetes by participants. The perceptions people had about diabetes revealed marginally medicalized images of this health condition. Conclusions: Study findings suggest the potential social stigmatization of diabetes and encourage looking for new ways in approaching the community as well as individual diabetic patients in regard to the issue of diabetes.