ASSESSMENT OF INSULIN INJECTION PRACTICE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH INSULIN RELATED OUTCOMES AMONG PATIENTS WITH DM AT ENDOCRINE CLINIC AT SPHMMC

Abstract

Abstract Background : Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease characterized by high blood glucose level which is associated with serious complications. Glycemic control is important to prevent/delay DM related macro or micro vascular complications. Appropriate insulin injection is indispensable to achieve adequate control of DM and prevent complications. Objective: To assess insulin injection practice and its association with the insulin relatedoutcomes among DM patients who are on follow up at SPHMMC, at adult endocrine clinic. Methods: An institution based, cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire for interview on representative sample of 352 diabetic patients; who are on followup at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College endocrine clinic from January-March 2022 to assess insulin injection practice and related outcomes. Systemic random sampling was conducted to get the required sample size. The collected data was entered into a computer using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 for windows. Means, standard deviations and percentages were calculated and cross-tabulation was used to compare different variables and subjected to Chi-square analysis to assess various relationships with a significance level of P-value < 0.05. Results: Among 352 study population majorities are in age range of 20-60(64.2%) and 183 are male .The study has revealed skin fold making before injection, inspecting injection site, injection site rotation, resuspension of cloudy insulin, insulin syringe reuse and frequent hand washing before injection were practiced by 71.9%.58.3%,66%,94% ,93% and 69.9% respectively of the study population. According to this study appropriate insulin injection was practiced only by 16.2% of the study population. Optimal glycemic control was achieved in 54% of the study population.Age(p=0.001%),gender(p=0.048 and monthly income(p=0.01%) have shown statistical significance with glycemic control. But place of residence (p=0.52%) and good/poor appropriate insulin injection(p=0.608%) have not shown any statistical significance. Conclusion and recommendation –Overall appropriate insulin injection practice is low. Therefore, every time a patient visits the hospital they should be educated on how to use insulin appropriately, with a focus on proper injection techniques. Periodic evaluations of knowledge on their use of insulin injections are necessary. Keywords: Insulin, Diabetes mellitus, Injection, Ethiopia.