KNOWLEDGE OF HYPERTENSION AND TYPE II DIABETES AMONG PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN NAM DINH PROVINCE

Abstract

Primary healthcare providers play an important role in the management of non-communicable diseases in general, hypertension, and diabetes in particular. The objective of this study was to describe the knowledge about hypertension and type II diabetes among primary healthcare providers in Nam Dinh province. In this study, 90 healthcare providers at 15 communes/wards in Nam Dinh province completed a self-report questionnaire on knowledge of hypertension and type II diabetes. The results indicated that the participants with correct knowledge about the risk factors of the disease reached 53.3-100%. The participants who answered that population aging and lifestyle changes were the causes of the increase in prevalence reached from 66.7% to 100%. The participants with correct knowledge about the diagnostic threshold were from 80% to 93.3%. The participants who were aware of the consequences of increasing the burden on the health system were only 17.3-86.3%. The best knowledge among participants was disease risk factors, the lowest was knowledge about the importance of disease management activities. It was necessary to organize regular training programs in improving knowledge of hypertension and type II diabetes for primary healthcare providers.