Study design and participants
A descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Endocrinology and
Metabolism out-patient clinic in a training hospital (Hue University
Hospital) between March 2018 and May 2019 in Hue, Vietnam.
The eligibility criteria for the patient were: (1) being 18 years of age
or older; (2) being diagnosed with type 1 and/or 2 diabetes and not
pregnant; (2) being prescribed one or more of the disposable insulin
pens for a minimum of 8 weeks; (3) self - administering insulin pens,
(4) having information about a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test and
fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, and (5) being willing to participate
in the research. The criterion of eight weeks insulin pen use was chosen
to observe the alteration in HbA1c levels.
The exclusion criteria were: (1) being not physically or mentally able
to carry out the interview, (2) already surveyed. Consequently, 148
patients who fulfilled the research criteria and were willing to
participate were enrolled in this study.