Training Needs Assessment Of Health Personnel On The Management Of Diabetes Mellitus In The West Region Of Cameroon

Background: Cameroon is one of the countries with highest burden diabetes in Africa; the adequate respond of health personnel to this burden depend on their knowledge in preventing and managing diabetic patients. Objective: To assess the knowledge of health personnel on the management of diabetes mellitus in the West Region of Cameroon Study design: It was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted in the West Region of Cameroon from May to July 2016. The Knowledge of consulting health personnel, selected using a multi-stage random sampling, was assessed on diabetes prevention and management using a structured pre-tested questionnaire administered face-to-face. We estimated proportions of health personnel who master the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, complications, risk factors, management and prevention with 95% CI. Results: Out of 193 health personnel included, 92.8% (CI 88.16-96.0), 119(61.7%), 66.8% (CI 54.4-68.6), and 57.5% (CI 50.2-64.6) of health personnel respectively knew that Polyuria, weights loss, polydypsia and polyphagia were primary signs and symptoms of diabetes. 72.5% (CI 65.7-78.7), 61.1% (CI 53.9-68.1) and 11.9% (7.7-17.3) personnel respectively knew that visual trouble, renal disorder and paralysis respectively were complications of diabetes mellitus. 51.8% (CI 44.5-59.1) of health personnel knew that eye should be frequently examined when exposing to diabetes. 74.6% (CI 67.9-80.6), 67.9% (CI 60.8-74.4) and 62.2% (CI 54.9-69.0) of health personnel knew that they need to advise patients on the importance of physical education, food hygiene and the mastery of primary signs and symptoms of diabetes. 68.9% (CI 61.9-75.4) of health personnel could diagnose diabetes using Fasting plasma glycemic test. Conclusion: The overall knowledge of health personnel regarding diabetes management is average; however, there are deficits in certain aspects of diabetes management. As such, there is an urgent need to improve and enhance the capability of health personnel to deliver adequate healthcare delivery services to diabetic patients through a more educational initiative like workshops, regular training. More so, new training methods should be developed and implement to appropriate health personnel.