Abstract:
KNOWLEDGE OF RISK FACTORS FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES BY PRIMARY HEALTH CARE NURSES IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Dr Barbara Daly, School of Nursing, University of Auckland; Prof. Bruce Arroll, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland; A/P Nicolette Sheridan, School of Nursing, University of Auckland; A/P Tim Kenealy, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland; Prof. Robert Scragg. Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics University of Auckland. Aims: Describe the knowledge of major risk factors for type 2 diabetes held by primary health care (PHC) nurses involved in the community management of diabetes. Methods: Random sample (26%) of PHC nurses in Auckland. Information was collected from postal and telephone questionnaires, on education, experience, knowledge and diabetes management practice. Results: Responses were received from 287 PHC nurses (86% response) comprising 210 practice nurses (PNs), 49 district or home-care nurses (DNs) and 28 specialist nurses (SNs). Most nurses (96%) were able to identify excess body weight as a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Only 54% of SNs and a third of PNs and DNs identified lack of physical activity, and fewer than 30% of SNs and PNs, and only 16% of DNs identified hypertension as risk factors. Even fewer respondents were able to identify individual lipids – although significantly more SNs identified elevated triglycerides (14%, p=0.02) and reduced high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (11%, p=0.003) as major risk factors compared with only 1 - 5% of PNs and no DNs. Risk factors for diabetes-related complications – apart from hyperglycaemia identified by 86% - were not well identified, particularly smoking (17%), hypertension (31%), triglycerides (9%) and reduced high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (8%). Conclusion: In general, PHC nurses had a good knowledge of overweight as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and hyperglycaemia as a risk factor for diabetes-related complications, but poor knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors, particularly smoking.
