Assessing Awareness and Knowledge Gaps in Diabetic Distress Among Qatar's Healthcare Providers: A Cross-Sectional...

Diabetes distress refers to the emotional burden associated with the ongoing management of diabetes. It affects up to 77% of patients with diabetes and is associated with poor glycemic control, reduced adherence to treatment, and lower quality of life. Despite its clinical relevance, diabetes distress (DD) remains under-recognised by healthcare professionals, particularly in the broader Middle East.

To assess the awareness and knowledge of diabetic distress among healthcare providers in a tertiary care hospital in Qatar and to identify demographic or professional factors influencing their responses.

A cross-sectional survey of 64 healthcare providers at Al Khor Hospital was conducted using an 18-item questionnaire assessing healthcare providers' Diabetes distress knowledge, consequences, and management familiarity. Associations between knowledge and factors such as specialty, experience, and prior Diabetes distress exposure were analysed using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests with Bonferroni adjustments for multiple comparisons.

Only 60.3% of respondents had heard of diabetes distress. Significant knowledge gaps existed, particularly among non-endocrinology professionals and those without prior formal education on diabetes distress. Prior exposure through educational settings was significantly associated with improved knowledge (p < 0.05), while clinical experience alone was not.

Substantial knowledge gaps persist in recognizing and managing diabetic distress among Qatar's healthcare providers. Educational exposure was a stronger determinant of knowledge than years of experience. Structured, interdisciplinary training programs are urgently needed.