Influence of Age and Gender on the Effectiveness of Type 2 Diabetes prevention Education Programs

Knowledge and Attitudes Among Elderly Populations in Enugu State Nigeria

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a pressing global health challenge, disproportionately affecting elderly populations. Understanding and addressing the impacts of age and gender on the knowledge and attitude of the elderly populations is pivotal in examining the effectiveness of type 2 diabetes prevention education programme. The present study examines the influence of age and gender on the effectiveness of Type 2 Diabetes prevention Education Programs on Knowledge and Attitudes of the Elderly Populations. The study adopted quasi experimental research design. Specifically, the pre-test – post-test non randomized control group design. Twenty seven specific objectives with corresponding research questions and null hypotheses guided the study. The population for the study comprised of all the elderly populations that are registered as retirees (10779) in Enugu State Public service. A total of 78 retirees constituted the sample for the study. The instrument for data collection was the researcher designed- structured questionnaire titled Influence of age and gender on the effectiveness of Diabetes Prevention Education Program on Knowledge and Attitude of the elderly population Questionnaire (IAGEDEPKAEPQ)” The reliability indices of r= 0.63, and r= 0.75 were obtained. The split half method with Spearman- Brown Correction formula was used to measure knowledge. Cronbach’s alpha statistical tool was used to determine the reliability coefficient that measured attitude. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The findings showed that younger elderly populations and male elderly populations had higher mean T2DM knowledge scores than older and female elderly populations, while the mean T2DM attitude scores of younger elderly populations and male elderly populations exposed were higher. In addition, There was no significance interaction effect of age and gender the effectiveness of diabetes prevention education programe (DPEP) on the mean T2DM knowledge and attitude scores of elderly populations in Enugu State, F(.041)=..177, p = .840, (r2) = .001..; F(.175)= .017, p = .895, (r2)= .000. This implies that, age and gender was not effective in improving T2DM knowledge and attitude score of the elderly populations. Based on the findings, the authors recommended that, Healthcare facilities providing geriatric services should integrate structured diabetes prevention education into routine health screening and follow-up visits for elderly patients.