Table 3.
Students’ response to the MetS questionnaire by gender – fair level of knowledge – (percentage of students answered correctly between 51-81%)
| Conditions | Question | Correct answer | Males (N = 69) | Females (N = 171) | Total (N = 240) | P Value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | n | % | n | % | ||||
| Diabetes | Hereditary factors play a major role in the development of diabetes. | True | 54 | 78.3 | 138 | 80.7 | 192 | 80.0 | 0.722 |
| An increased alertness is a frequent symptom of diabetes. | False | 47 | 68.2 | 141 | 82.5 | 188 | 78.3 | 0.310 | |
| Hereditary factors play only a minor role in the development of diabetes. | False | 43 | 62.3 | 112 | 65.5 | 155 | 64.6 | 0.657 | |
| For some individuals with diabetes it is not advisable to take insulin. | True | 57 | 82.6 | 119 | 69.6 | 176 | 73.3 | 0.052 | |
| Individuals with diabetes may only eat special kinds of sweets for diabetes. | False | 29 | 42.0* | 104 | 60.8* | 133 | 55.4 | 0.010 | |
| With diabetes, sugar cannot enter the cells sufficiently. | True | 47 | 69.1 | 103 | 60.6 | 150 | 63.0 | 0.237 | |
| Poor appetite is a frequent symptom of diabetes. | False | 33 | 47.4 | 93 | 54.4 | 126 | 52.5 | 0.393 | |
| With diabetes, too much sugar enters the cells. | False | 45 | 65.2 | 89 | 52.1 | 134 | 55.8 | 0.084 | |
| Pregnant women have an increased risk of acquiring diabetes. | True | 47 | 69.1 | 134 | 78.4 | 181 | 75.7 | 0.136 | |
| Frequent urination is a classic symptom of diabetes. | True | 55 | 79.7 | 121 | 71.2 | 176 | 73.6 | 0.198 | |
| Arteriosclerosis is one of the sequalae of diabetes. | True | 44 | 63.8 | 109 | 64.1 | 153 | 64.0 | 1.000 | |
| Adiposity | An excessively fatty, high-caloric is the only factor that determines adiposity. | False | 43 | 62.3 | 105 | 62.5 | 148 | 62.5 | 1.000 |
| Adipose individuals have the same risk than non-adipose individuals of suffering a stroke. | False | 45 | 65.2 | 120 | 71.4 | 165 | 69.2 | 0.355 | |
| Adiposity can be treated surgically. | True | 45 | 65.2 | 128 | 76.2 | 173 | 73.0 | 0.107 | |
| Hypertension | Hypertension is associated with heredity. | True | 54 | 79.4 | 138 | 80.7 | 192 | 80.3 | 0.858 |
| For the most part, a concrete single reason of why a patient suffers from hypertension can be determined. | False | 33 | 48.5 | 103 | 60.2 | 136 | 56.9 | 0.067 | |
| Pregnant women are less likely to suffer from hypertension. | False | 48 | 70.6* | 143 | 83.6* | 191 | 79.9 | 0.031 | |
| After medication has lowered hypertension, the medication can usually be discontinued. | False | 44 | 64.7 | 115 | 67.7 | 159 | 66.8 | 0.761 | |
| Individuals with hypertension are less likely to suffer from arteriosclerosis. | False | 44 | 64.7* | 134 | 78.8* | 178 | 74.8 | 0.031 | |
| Hypertension can be caused by disorders of the thyroid gland. | True | 54 | 79.4 | 133 | 78.4 | 187 | 78.6 | 1.000 | |
| Hypertension can cause renal damage. | True | 53 | 77.9 | 134 | 78.8 | 187 | 78.6 | 0.863 | |
| Hypertension can lead to eye disorders. | True | 49 | 72.1 | 119 | 70.0 | 168 | 70.6 | 0.875 | |
| Hypertension can be caused by cerebral tumors. | True | 43 | 63.4 | 111 | 65.3 | 154 | 64.7 | 0.766 | |
| High serum cholesterol | High serum cholesterol is not associated with hereditary factors. | False | 46 | 66.7* | 133 | 80.6* | 179 | 76.2 | 0.028 |
| Arteriosclerosis | With arteriosclerosis, arteries become softer. | False | 42 | 60.8 | 109 | 64.9 | 151 | 63.7 | 0.556 |
| Arteriosclerosis can be cured completely. | False | 48 | 69.6 | 135 | 80.4 | 183 | 77.2 | 0.088 | |
| With arteriosclerosis, arteries become less elastic. | True | 45 | 65.2* | 141 | 83.9* | 186 | 78.5 | 0.003 | |
| As a result of arteriosclerosis, blood pressure is likely to decline. | False | 42 | 60.9* | 129 | 76.8* | 171 | 72.2 | 0.017 | |
| As a result of arteriosclerosis, blood pressure is likely to increase. | True | 53 | 76.8 | 136 | 81.0 | 189 | 79.8 | 0.480 | |
| High blood pressure and arteriosclerosis are not linked with each other. | False | 51 | 73.9 | 135 | 81.3 | 186 | 79.2 | 0.212 | |
| The risk of suffering from arteriosclerosis is not hereditary. | False | 41 | 59.4* | 125 | 74.9* | 166 | 70.3 | 0.028 | |
| Arteriosclerosis can cause renal damage. | True | 53 | 76.8 | 124 | 74.7 | 177 | 75.4 | 0.869 | |
| With arteriosclerosis, blood platelets accumulate on the arterial walls. | True | 54 | 78.3 | 117 | 70.5 | 171 | 72.8 | 0.261 | |
| With arteriosclerosis, fat accumulates on the arterial walls. | True | 45 | 75.2* | 133 | 79.6* | 178 | 75.4 | 0.030 | |
| Medication can remove completely sediments from the arteries. | False | 45 | 65.2 | 118 | 71.1 | 163 | 69.4 | 0.438 | |
| With arteriosclerosis, arteries become brittle. | True | 50 | 72.5 | 109 | 65.3 | 159 | 67.4 | 0.351 | |
| A stroke is caused by artery obstruction. | True | 51 | 73.9 | 139 | 83.2 | 190 | 80.5 | 0.107 | |
| The nutrient supply to the brain is not affected by a stroke. | False | 44 | 63.8* | 142 | 85.5* | 186 | 79.2 | <0.001 | |
| A stroke is characterized by a sudden dysfunction of the heart. | False | 44 | 63.8 | 89 | 53.3 | 133 | 56.4 | 0.151 | |
| A stroke is caused when overexcited cells produce too much electricity. | False | 44 | 63.8 | 103 | 61.7 | 147 | 62.9 | 0.883 | |
| Individuals with diabetes are more likely to suffer a stroke. | True | 47 | 68.2 | 122 | 73.1 | 169 | 69.1 | 0.526 | |
| Smoking is a minor risk factor with respect to a myocardial infarction. | False | 35 | 51.5* | 109 | 66.1* | 144 | 61.8 | 0.031 | |
| The oxygen supply to the heart is not affected by a myocardial infarction. | False | 45 | 66.2* | 138 | 83.1* | 183 | 78.2 | 0.008 | |
| Damage caused by a myocardial infarction is not usually permanent. | False | 45 | 66.2* | 133 | 80.6* | 178 | 76.4 | 0.027 | |
| Diabetes is a predisposing factor for a myocardial infarction. | True | 42 | 60.9 | 122 | 73.5 | 164 | 69.8 | 0.062 | |
| When suffering a myocardial infarction, pain may radiate into the stomach. | True | 38 | 55.1 | 105 | 63.3 | 143 | 60.9 | 0.245 | |
| A myocardial infarction can manifest itself through nausea and vomiting. | True | 42 | 60.9 | 94 | 56.6 | 136 | 57.9 | 0.565 | |
*p < 0.05.