Revisiting Nurse Knowledge About Diabetes: An Update and Implications for Practice

Abstract

This study attempted to ascertain the diabetes knowledge level of nurses in a university medical center, to describe correlates of nurse knowledge, and to compare levels of diabetes knowledge between nursing units. A convenience sample of staff nurses (n=99) from six inpatient units and an ambulatory care center volunteered to complete a previously developed, 45-item questionnaire testing their knowledge of basic concepts about diabetes mellitus. Analysis of variance, comparing the nursing units, indicated a significant difference between units (P=.04) on the knowledge questionnaire. In a 4-step, hierarchial, multiple regression analysis, variables related to how competent the nurses felt in caring for diabetic patients and the number of diabetic patients cared for in the past month explained 28% of the variance in diabetes knowledge. Although this study corroborates earlier findings, questions still remain concerning the general adequacy of nurses' knowledge about diabetes.