This study aims evaluating the level of knowledge and awareness among thyroid patients in Diwan
Health Complex-Muscat by understanding the practiced knowledge management system and its effect
in providing the same.
Methods
A descriptive study involved conducting a survey covering thyroid patients and their treating
physicians. Data collection involved two questionnaires; the first was a telephonic questionnaire
conducted on thyroid patients and the second questionnaire was distributed to their treating
physicians. The survey involved a number of 150 respondents of thyroid patients whom are being
registered and treated in Diwan Health Complex- Muscat during the period of 2016-2020 whereas a
number of 11 physicians were included in the survey. Data compiling and interpretation were done
out using Excel and SPSS.
Results
95% of the participated patients had no previous knowledge of thyroid gland & its associated
diseases. Post-diagnosis, thyroid diseases’ education and awareness is low. 62.22% of thyroid patients
have voted that the health complex does not visually display any contents of thyroid diseases, 76% of
thyroid patients did not receive any counselling and/or awareness sessions beside their routine
appointments and 91.33% of these patients confirmed receiving no printed materials of their diseases.
Conclusion
In the chosen health complex, thyroid patients’ awareness and knowledge were merely subjected to
the physician’s individual effort which varied from one physician to another. The efforts were
controlled by a variety of factors such as the absence of a KM system, absence of IT role, busy clinics,
doctor-patient counselling time, non-availability of an Endocrinologists, unavailability of disease
educator/counselor and changing treating physicians on every visit. On the organizational level, the
health complex spared no visible efforts in educating or raising thyroid patients’ awareness nor has a
clear structured system of KM in this regard.
Keywords : Thyroid gland, Thyroid Diseases, Knowledge, Awareness, Knowledge Management (KM).