This topic contains 1 reply, has 2 voices, and was last updated by Kaye 1 month, 1 week ago.
-
Posts
-
An older article found in my files today:
A randomized trial comparing intensive and passive education in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Raji A, Gomes H, Beard JO, MacDonald P, Conlin PR.Source
Endocrinology-Hypertension Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 221 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. [email protected]Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Patient education is a cornerstone of treatment in diabetes mellitus, but there is not unanimity of opinion as to how it should be delivered.OBJECTIVE:
To determine whether a single, intensive group educational program would improve glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels when compared with passive education.METHODS:
A total of 106 patients with HbA(1c) levels greater than 8.5% were randomized to either an intensive (n = 50) or a passive education (n = 56) group. The intensive education group received 3.5 days of a structured curriculum involving a physician, nurse, nutritionist, pharmacist, exercise physiologist, and a social worker. The passive education group received material sent by mail every 3 months providing basic information on topics related to diabetes management. Patients continued care with their diabetes care provider during the study period. Levels of HbA(1c) were measured at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after randomization. A matched control group of individuals who declined participation also had HbA(1c) levels measured at baseline and 12 months.RESULTS:
Mean +/- SD HbA(1c) levels fell significantly (P<.001) from baseline (9.9% +/- 1.3%) in both the intensive (-2.0%) and passive (-1.9%) education groups at 12 months, and there was no difference between the groups at any evaluation time. Both groups had significantly greater decline (P<.03) in HbA(1c) levels than a matched control group (-1.2%) with similar baseline HbA(1c) levels that did not receive education.CONCLUSIONS:
Patients with elevated HbA(1c) levels who were receptive to education had substantial improvement in HbA(1c) levels after receiving an educational intervention. In this population, intensive or passive methods of delivering patient education seemed to have similar effect on improving glycemic control.PMID: 12038949 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]LINK: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12038949
Are you open to learning from skilled health professionals such as Credentialed Diabetes Educators, dietitians, psychologists/counsellors and exercise physiologistswith a view of improving your knowledge and skills?
Personally, I think people find it hard to take time off from work to be educated. Not a lot of people are willing to take time off work, despite it only being a short time off. If more people could see how beneficial the courses could be then it would dramatically change a lot of minds.
About 6 months ago I took a week off to do the Dafne course with diabetic educators, dietitians and counsellors. I found this to be the most beneficial week and highly recommend it to everyone with type one diabetes. I’m not sure how best to convince people to take time off work, but I think it needs to be done. My HbA1c has gone down since doing the course, but not only that, I feel like my diabetes is more controlled and I am more capable of controlling it myself.
I think we just need to get the word out there more to encourage people to do the courses when they are available.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.