COVID-19 infection awareness, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of diabetic patients in Muğla Training and Research Hospital

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the knowledge level, attitudes and behaviors of diabetic patients about Covid-19 infection and vaccines. Materials and Methods: Our study was conducted by applying a questionnaire about Covid-19 infection to 341 diabetic patients aged 18 and over, between July 2021 and September 2021 in the Diabetes Nutrition and Dietetics Outpatient Clinic of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Training and Research Hospital. Results: In this study 44.0% of the participants were male, 56.0% were female, and the mean age was 53.83±14.9. Among the participants, 14.4% have had Covid-19, and 85.6% have not. In this study 86.5% of the patients had the Covid-19 vaccine, 13.5% had not yet had it, and 2.9% did not want to have it. The knowledge level of the patients ranged from 3 to 18, and the mean knowledge score in our study was 16. The rate of those who said that diabetics will have more severe Covid-19 was 75.1%. 93.3% of the participants adopt the attitude that they should have the Covid-19 vaccine, 95.3% said that they should not go out of the house.The rate of those who do not attend to crowded environments was 78.3%, 35.2% would go to each follow up visit for diabetes, 71.8% did not exercise and 51.0% didn't follow their dietary restrictions. 81.8% of the patients stated that Covid-19 was dangerous, 95.9% feared it would effect their health, 73.6% stated that the epidemic could not be overcome without vaccination. The average knowledge score of those who do not meet with their friends indoors was 16, and the average score of those who do their exercises at home was 17. The average knowledge score of those who fear that Covid-19 will effect health (16) was higher than those who were not afraid (13). Conclusion: Awareness and knowledge level of Covid-19 infection was higher than other studies. The perception that the epidemic cannot be overcome without a vaccine has been adopted by majority of the participants. In conclusion, with the improvement in the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors can change towards protection from the epidemic. Keywords: Covid-19, diabetes mellitus, awareness, knowledge, attitude, behavior