Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 among young adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus amid the nationwide lockdown in India: A cross-sectional survey

Pal, Rimesh; Yadav, Urmila; Grover, Sandeep; Saboo, Banshi; Verma, Anmol; Bhadada, Sanjay K.

AIMS: To assess knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) towards COVID-19 amid nationwide lockdown in India. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey among young adults with T1DM (aged 18-30 years) in the North, Central, South and West zones of India. It consisted of fifteen, five and eight questions pertaining to knowledge, attitude and practices towards COVID-19, respectively. Certain questions relevant to T1DM were also incorporated. RESULTS: After exclusion, 212 participants were included (mean age=25.1±4.3 years; M:F=10:11). The overall correct rate of the knowledge questionnaire was 83% (mean total knowledge score=12.4±1.9). Most (74%) had average knowledge score (mean±1SD). Higher educational status, urban residence and being married were associated with better knowledge scores; however, only urban residence was found to be statistically significant on multinomial logistic regression. Most (88%) felt that being a patient of T1DM, they were at higher risk of getting infected with COVID-19. At the same time, 98% were confident about self-protection. Fifty-one percent of respondents had left home amid lockdown mostly to procure insulin/injection needles/syringes/glucometer strips from pharmacy. However, all were maintaining proper hand hygiene and most were following routine dietary advice (95%) and administering prescribed insulin doses (99%). Seventy-two participants (34%) had experienced one or more episodes of hypoglycemia since commencement of lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults with T1DM have average knowledge, positive attitude and healthy preventive practices towards COVID-19. Awareness campaigns targeted towards rural communities and providing doorstep delivery of insulin/needles/syringes may be more rewarding.