OBJECTIVE: To assess and describe patients' knowledge regarding medication therapy to treat diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007 at a university center in the interior of São Paulo State, Brazil. Forty-six patients with diabetes were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to gather sociodemographic, clinical, and medication information. Data analysis consisted of univariate statistics and measures of central tendency. RESULTS: The majority of participants (89.1%) used oral hypoglycemic agents, 41.3% used insulin injections, and 30.4% used a combination therapy oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin injections. A large number of participants (56.5%) had knowledge deficit regarding their medication regimen. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest the need to develop a more effective patient orientation process in the health care services. It is not enough to offer the medication; one must also comprehensively assess patients' knowledge and use of the medication.
Nursing; Diabetes mellitus; Evaluation; Patient education as topic
