Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health

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Volume 7, Issue Supplement 1, March 2018, Pages S49 - S54

Levels of health awareness in diabetic patients during Ramadan 2015: Focus group discussion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Authors
F.Y. Al Slaila, *, fatima.alslail@gmail.com, H.U. Afridib, Sahar Mohamed Fadla, O.O. Kheira
aNational Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
bWorld Health Organization, Libya
*Corresponding author.
Corresponding Author
Received 19 June 2017, Revised 29 March 2018, Accepted 19 April 2018, Available Online 3 May 2018.
DOI
10.1016/j.jegh.2018.04.004How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Diabetes; Focus group; Management; Ramadan
Abstract

A qualitative study was carried out to explore the health status of people with diabetes during Ramadan. Fifteen patients participated in two focus group discussions. Most respondents reported lack of knowledge regarding their own conditions and do not follow the medical advice of not fasting during Ramadan. Barriers facing the patients seeking healthcare before and during Ramadan were the atmosphere, long distances to facilities, monthly appointments, and monthly prescribed medication. All respondents agreed on the importance of physical activity but their opinions varied on how to conduct it. Regarding the services, most respondents were unsatisfied due to the lack of health services provided in addition to the shortage of essential medication or laboratory investigations. Others blamed primary healthcare-center staff for the delay in laboratory investigation results and the unavailability of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Respondents also claimed that self-check glucometer measurements are not as accurate as laboratory results. Doctors may be able to educate patients regarding the effects of fasting with diabetes whereas religious leaders may influence individuals to follow doctors’ advice. Evaluation of the quality of healthcare services is necessary to identify defects in health services in order to ameliorate service quality, including availability of drugs and glucometers in pharmacies, and laboratory investigations, including HbA1c, to meet patient satisfaction.

Copyright
© 2017 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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<Previous Article In Issue
Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue
7 - Supplement 1
Pages
S49 - S54
Publication Date
2018/05/03
ISSN (Online)
2210-6014
ISSN (Print)
2210-6006
DOI
10.1016/j.jegh.2018.04.004How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2017 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - F.Y. Al Slail
AU  - H.U. Afridi
AU  - Sahar Mohamed Fadl
AU  - O.O. Kheir
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/05/03
TI  - Levels of health awareness in diabetic patients during Ramadan 2015: Focus group discussion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - S49
EP  - S54
VL  - 7
IS  - Supplement 1
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2018.04.004
DO  - 10.1016/j.jegh.2018.04.004
ID  - AlSlail2018
ER  -