Data was collected with the aid of questionnaires to evaluate the patients' and family members' knowledge and views on diabetes mellitus. Questionnaires were decided upon because of the following:
• They ensured a high response rate as the questionnaires were distributed to respondents to complete and were collected personally by the researcher.
• They required less time and energy to administer.
• They offered the possibility of anonymity because subjects’ names were not required on the completed questionnaires.
• There was less opportunity for bias as they were presented in a consistent manner.
• Most of the items in the questionnaires were closed, which made it easier to compare the responses to each item.