Assessment of Insulin Injection Practice among Diabetes Patients in a Tertiary Healthcare Centre in Nepal: A Preliminary Study

Insulin injection practice and health related quality of life among individuals with diabetes at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Insulin therapy can be inconvenient, painful, burdensome, and restrict patients' daily activities and health related quality of life (HRQOL) due to improper injection techniques or the nature of administration.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess insulin injection practice, HRQOL and predictors among patients treated with insulin at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH).

METHODS

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among diabetes patients on insulin therapy from May to June 2022. A structured questionnaire was used to collect patient characteristics and insulin injection practice. The validated Amharic version of an EQ-5D-5L tool was used to assess the HRQOL. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. The patient data were summarized using descriptive statistics. One-way ANOVA using Kruskal-Wallis H tests was used to assess factors that predict insulin handling practice scores. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess factors affecting HRQOL among diabetes patients treated with insulin. The EQ5D-5L utility scores of the patients were calculated using disutility coefficients taken from the Ethiopian general population. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05.

RESULTS

Of 319 patients who agreed and completed the survey, 51.1% of them were males. Almost half of the participants (n = 158) were > 50 years of age. Among the study participants, 62.1% were only on intermediate acting insulin. A significantly higher proportion of participants 291(91.2%) in this study were taking insulin two times per day. Most of the participants 234(73.4%) had fair practice with a median insulin handling practice score of 38 out of 56. Patient characteristics such as age, educational status, occupation, disease duration, and type of diabetes were significantly association with insulin injection practice (p < 0.05). The mean ± SD utility score of patients were 0.89 ± 0.19 (ranged from -0.04 to 1). Being female (β = -5.42, 95%CI:-8.63,-2.21, p = 0.001) and treated for type-I diabetes mellitus (β =  + 9.04, 95%CI: 4.23,13.85, p-value < 0.0001) were significantly associated with HRQOL of patients on insulin therapy.

CONCLUSION

The study participants had fair practices in insulin handling, storage, and administration techniques, and it was seen that male and type one diabetes patients have a better quality of life compared to their counterparts.

Disposal of Used Pens and Needles from Diabetes Patients Perspective

Introduction

Diabetes as lifelong chronic disease requires pharmacological treatment using plastic pens and needles. Proper disposal of used pens and needles have impact not just on health but environment as well. In 2020 there will be 3.2 million pens used and disposed in Bosnia and Herzegovina resulting in over 600 tons of this waste. Worldwide problem is related to proper disposal of used insulin pens and sharps.

Aim

To investigate and evaluate what are the attitudes, knowledge and practices on insulin pens and needles disposal among diabetes patients in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Methods

The research was conducted in five cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in period December 2019-January 2020 using questionnaire consisted of 28 questions distributed among patients with diabetes through their local patient associations.

Results

Total 250 diabetes patients participated. 40.4% inject medicines for 2 times per day and 37.6% for three and more times a day. Patients have not been instructed on proper disposal of used pens or needles in 67.6% and 66% respectively. The most appropriate place to dispose used pens is pharmacies and 90% of respondents would participate in program of collecting used pens if one exists. 75.6% of respondents consider improper disposal of pens and needles as healthcare problem, 18.8% see this as ecological problem and for 4% of them this is not a problem at all.

Conclusion

Current practice of disposing used insulin pens and sharps is improper. Patients are aware of health and environmental risk. There is a huge opportunity for pharmacists and other healthcare provides to provide better information and counseling diabetes patients on this topic.

The Effectiveness of Health Education in Improving Knowledge about Hypoglycemia and Insulin Pen Use among Outpatients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a Primary Care Hospital in Vietnam

BACKGROUND

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who have limited knowledge about hypoglycemia and insulin pen use are likely to have hypoglycemia and other complications.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of health education on knowledge about hypoglycemia and insulin pen use among outpatients with T2DM at a primary care hospital in Vietnam.

METHODS

A pretest-posttest study was conducted among 80 patients with T2DM at District 11 Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. At baseline, patients were interviewed through a predefined, structural questionnaire to assess their knowledge about hypoglycemia and insulin pen use. After that, patients underwent an individual health education session about hypoglycemia and insulin pen. One month and two months after this intervention, knowledge about hypoglycemia and insulin pen use were recorded again.

RESULTS

The majority were males (65.0%) and the mean age was 59.6 (standard deviation 8.1, range 35-75) years. Very few patients had good knowledge and proper insulin pen use, with percentages ranging from 13.8% to 60%. There was a significant improvement of knowledge and practice after the intervention. Such improvement remained high one month and two months after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The health education intervention is effective in improving knowledge and practice in this population. There is a pressing need for such intervention at primary care hospitals to optimize treatment for patients with T2DM, possibly focusing on those who had characteristics to have the best effectiveness found in this study.

Assessment of Insulin Injection Technique Among Diabetic Patients in Makkah Region in Saudi Arabia

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is defined as a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent high blood glucose. Proper insulin injection is indispensable to achieve adequate control of DM and prevent complications. Therefore, this study aims to assess the knowledge of DM patients about their insulin injection techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionnaire-based and cross-sectional study was carried out from January to March 2020 at three locations in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The inclusion criteria of research subjects included patients diagnosed with type-1 or type-2 DM and using insulin pen injection. The questionnaire included demographic data including age, gender, nationality, educational level, and chronic disease as well as specific questions about insulin injection technique.

RESULTS

Four hundred and thirty-seven DM patients participated in the study. The most prevalent age group was between 20 and 60 years old (69.1%). The vast majority of patients were females (64.1%), Saudi nationals (92.9%), and residents of Makkah city (70%). There were roughly equal numbers of patients with type-1 and type-2 DM (47% and 53%, respectively). With regard to complications of DM, 19.5% of patients had previous acidosis, and 16.5% of patients were admitted to hospital for various complications. Injection-related complications were reported by almost half of the patients (49.9). The knowledge of insulin injection practices was examined among DM patients according to different variables. Only the frequency of administration exhibited a significant difference in the practices toward proper insulin injection technique (p = 0.049); patients who administered insulin injection three times daily had the best practices toward insulin injection when compared to other patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that the practices toward insulin use among the surveyed DM patients in Makkah region were not satisfactory. Poor insulin injection technique is an important modifiable risk factor for uncontrolled blood glucose levels. More awareness campaigns and better counseling initiatives are crucial to guarantee steady insulin levels among DM patients.

Hand Hygiene Practices Among Adults with Diabetes Living in Communities: The 2015 Korea Community Health Survey

Hand hygiene is the most effective strategy to prevent infectious diseases. This study investigated and compared the hand hygiene practices of adults with diabetes and an age- and gender-matched comparison group. Adults with diabetes (n = 22,920) who participated in the 2015 Korea Community Health Survey and an appropriate comparison group (n = 22,920) were selected. Descriptive analyses, chi-square tests, and multiple logistic regression analyses were used. Greater than 98% of participants with diabetes recognized that hand hygiene helps prevent infectious diseases. Among participants with diabetes, 84.3%, 82.4%, 72.5%, and 64.1% washed their hands frequently before eating, after using the restroom, after returning from the outdoors, and with soap or hand sanitizer, respectively, but these values were significantly lower than those of the comparison group. After performing multiple regression analyses, treatments for diabetes, being educated about diabetes management and handwashing, and awareness of hemoglobin A1c levels were significantly associated with hand hygiene practices in participants with diabetes. Almost all people with diabetes were aware of the efficacy of hand hygiene, but handwashing rates were significantly lower in people with diabetes than in the comparison group. Considering treatments for diabetes, educational campaigns regarding handwashing, and increasing awareness of handwashing efficacy will help improve hand hygiene in people with diabetes.

Insulin Injection Technique is Associated with Glycemic Variability in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) receiving premixed insulin often fail to achieve optimal glycemic control. The insulin injection technique (IT) itself may be one of the factors affecting glycemic variability (GV). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between GV and IT in patients with T2D using premixed insulin.

METHODS

This was a single center, cross-sectional, and self-controlled trial. Patients with T2D using premixed insulin were enrolled as inpatients. The 4-day study consisted of a 2-day patient insulin injection period (days 0 and 1) and a 2-day specialist nurse insulin injection period (days 2 and 3). Patient insulin IT were assessed on day 1 by two independent nurses using a skill-related scale consisting of 15 items, with a maximum score for each item of 2 and a total optimum score of 30. All patients underwent 96-h continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) during the 4-day study, and CGM data collected on days 1 and 3 were recorded and analyzed. The primary outcome was the relationship between the insulin IT score and the 24-h mean amplitude glycemic excursion (MAGE) during the patient injection period.

RESULTS

A total of 52 inpatients with T2D who used premixed insulin were recruited and completed the study. The mean total insulin IT score of these patients was considerably lower than the optimum score (17.0 ± 4.4 vs. 30). Our CGM data showed that the MAGE was significantly higher during the patient injection period than during the nurse injection period (P  < 0.05). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that the patient IT score was negatively correlated to the MAGE (P  < 0.05). The patient IT score was also negatively correlated to glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c; P  < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A poorer insulin IT may negatively affect GV and HbA_1c control in patients with T2D using premixed insulin. Our data indicate that the insulin IT is important for short- and long-term glycemic control.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identification number: NCT03513055.

Assessment of Insulin Injection Practice of Nurses Working in a Tertiary Healthcare Center of Nepal

Introduction

Sound knowledge and good practice on insulin injection technique are essential for nurses in order to administer insulin correctly and to educate patients or their relatives adequately. This study aimed to assess the insulin injection practice through the use of insulin pen among nurses working in a tertiary healthcare center of Nepal.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 67 nurses working in one of the tertiary healthcare centers of Nepal. Demographic information and insulin injection practice of nurses through the use of insulin pen were assessed using self-administered questionnaire. Each correct practice was scored “1” and incorrect practice was scored “0.” Results. The median (IQR) insulin injection practice score of nurses was 11 (9-12) out of 16. Thirty-seven (55.2%) nurses store insulin pen filled with insulin cartridge at room temperature while 57 (85.1%) nurses store unopened cartridge at refrigerator (2-8°C). The practice of hand washing and injection site cleaning was mentioned by 92.5% and 82.1% of the nurses, respectively. However, just over half of the nurses mix the premix (cloudy) insulin and prime insulin pen before each injection. Thirty-four (50.7%) nurses do not lift skin during injection and more than half of the nurses keep needle beneath the skin for less than 5 seconds after completely injecting the required dose of insulin. One out of ten nurses massage injection site after injecting insulin. Most of the nurses (86.6%) use single needle more than once and the median (IQR) frequency of needle reuse was 6 (3-12). Similarly, systematic site rotation was performed by 59 (88.1%) nurses and twenty (29.9%) nurses claim that they use single insulin pen for two different cartridges.

Conclusion

The insulin injection practice of nurses assessed through the use of insulin pen was suboptimal and highlights the need for urgent educational intervention.