The Construct Validity of an Instrument for Measuring Type 2 Diabetes Self-Care Knowledge in Nigeria

Purpose: To develop an instrument (DSCKQ-30) for measuring type 2 diabetic patients’ knowledge of self-care practices.Methods: A 30-item questionnaire (DSCKQ-30) consisting of close ended questions was developed for this study. DSCKQ-30 was self administered to a cross-section of randomly selected 400 ambulatory adult diabetic patients (≥ 18 years), who were attending endocrinology clinics at the hospitals included in this study. The sex distribution for female and male was 56.7 and 43.3% respectively. Factor analysis and item analysis were performed to test the construct validity and reliability of the instrument. Item performance was measured by item discrimination (item-to-total correlation) and percent correctness (%C).Results: The response rate was 78.5%. Factor analysis identified three scales of knowledge of self-care management. Chronbach’s alpha of the 30 questionnaire items was found to be 0.89. The item-to-total correlation coefficients and ranges for component 1 - 3 were 0.36 (0.25 - 0.48), 0.28 (0.23 - 0.35), and 0.34 (0.23 - 0.41), respectively, with overall average of 0.33 (0.23 - 0.48). Items percent correctness (% C) ranged from 16.7 to 86.7 % with an overall average of 55.6 %. Item factor loadings averaged 0.62 for the total items; averages of the three scales ranged from 0.59 to 0.68.Conclusion: The DSCKQ-30 provided a quantitative measure of patient's knowledge of self-care practices.Keywords: Diabetes self-care knowledge, DSCKQ-30, Knowledge instrument, Nigeria

Influence of Chronic Administration of Chloroquine on Leydig Cell Integrity and Testosterone Profile of Albino Wistar Rats

The effect of chronic administration of chloroquine on leydig cells and plasma testosterone level was examined. Twenty-five albino Wistar rats were divided into five groups –– A, B, C, D and E. Group A animals received a normal dose of 0.57mg per kg body weight of chloroquine for 3 days. Groups B, C and D received chronic doses of 0.57 mg per kg body weight of chloroquine for 4, 5 and 6 days respectively. Group E animals, which served as control, were administered normal saline. Historical examination of the process sections of groups B, C and D indicated numerical reduction of the leydig cells when compared with the control group. Group A appeared normal. The basement membrane of the seminiferous epithelium in groups C, C and D were disrupted, leading to the detachment of many spermatocytes. Groups B, C and D recorded reduced level of plasma testosterone when compared with the control group. However, the concentration of plasma testosterone in group A (2.15 1.63g/ml) and control (2.40 ± 1.48g/ml) were similar. Chromic administration of chloroquine reduced the number of leydig cells with concomitant reduction of testosterone production. It also disrupted seminiferous epithelium, leading to the detachment of spermotocytes. (Afr J Reprod Health 1999; 3 [2]: 97-101) Key Words: Chloroquine, leydig cells, testosterone, seminiferous epitheliu