Illness perception and knowledge with regard to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: A pilot study of emergency department patients and staff

Abstract

Background: We aimed to explore emergency department (ED) patients', doctors', and nurses' knowledge and illness perception with regard to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to determine whether patients' diabetes risk was associated with illness perception. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of adult ED patients and clinicians was undertaken. Patients and clinicians were administered the 72-item Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised, five researcher-generated questions with regard to the awareness of T2DM, and seven items with regard to the efficacy of lifestyle interventions. Patients were also administered the eight-item Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test. Results: Of 127 patie..