An assessment of the effectiveness of a diabetes education program

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a diabetes education program, International Diabetes Center of Tennessee, Fort Sanders Health System, in helping patients to acquire and retain knowledge of factors and skills for effectively managing non-insulin-dependent diabetes; and in helping patients to reduce glycosylated hemoglobin (HbgAl) and weight. A secondary purpose of this investigation was to suggest program behavioral enhancing protocols based on the findings. Data were collected during the fall, 1995 and spring, 1996 semesters. Thirty patients were contained in the experimental group, which attended a four-day diabetes education class; and 30 patients were contained in the control group, which did not attend a diabetes education class. Pre-intervention scores were obtained using three instruments: Diabetes and Its Management (DIM), Management of Diabetes and Its Complications (MDIC), and Feelings About Your Diabetes Management Plan (FDMP). These inventory instruments were administered at the beginning of the investigation, and 3 months after the intervention. Moreover, pre and post levels of HbgAl, and weight were collected.

Answers were sought to the following questions: (1) Was there a difference between the groups in acquiring and retaining a knowledge of the factors for effectively managing non-insulin-dependent-diabetes mellitus? (2) Was there a difference between the groups in acquiring and retaining the knowledge of skills to select appropriate courses of action for managing non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus? (3) Was there a difference between the groups in feeling that they could effectively manage their non- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus? (4) Was there a reduction of HbgAl, and weight levels between groups? Based on the findings, program enhancing behavioral protocols to improve diabetes education programs to effectively increase patient management were suggested?

Data analysis showed that there was a interaction between both groups from pre to post tests on all dependent variables. Significant group and time effect occurred on all dependent variables, except for HgbAlc. There was a significant difference in the time effect for weight. Based on the findings of this investigation, the following conclusions were made:

1. Acquisition and retention of a knowledge of factors for effectively managing non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was gained by attending a diabetes education class.
2. Acquisition and retention of a knowledge of skills to select appropriate courses of action for managing non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and its complications was gained by attending a diabetes education class.
3. Acquisition and a better feeling to effectively manage non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was gained by attending a diabetes education class.
4. A reduction of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbgAl) and weight occurred as a result of attending a diabetes education class, due to the information that was received and by putting this information into practice.
5. Suggestions were made concerning program program enhancing protocols to improve diabetes education programs to effectively increase patient management of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. These suggestions are stated in the recommendations section.