Avaliação estratégica de educação em grupo e individual no programa educativo em diabetes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To compare the effectiveness of individual and group strategies in a diabetes education program. METHODS:A total of 104 type-2 diabetes outpatients enrolled in an education program of a teaching hospital in Belo Horizonte, Southeastern Brazil, were randomly selected and assigned to two different education strategies: group education (54 subjects) and individual education (50 subjects). Group education comprised three monthly sessions, which involved play and interactive dynamics. In parallel, a second group received individual education. Subjects were follow up for six months during 2006 and they were evaluated using specifi c questionnaires: knowledge of diabetes, psychological attitudes, change in behavior, quality of life. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline, three and six months of intervention. RESULTS:Mean age was 60.6 years. The results of group and individual education were similar in the assessment tests of attitude, change of behavior and quality of life. A reduction in HbA1c levels was seen in both groups, but a statistically signifi cant difference (p=0.012) was found only in the group education.CONCLUSIONS: Both strategies of diabetes education were effective, however, group education was more effective than individual education for blood glucose control.

The effect of educational intervention on the disease knowledge of diabetes mellitus patients

“…Changes in eating behavior and the practice of physical activity in DM2 patients are very important in the evaluation of group education programs in diabetes and are subject to the improvement of knowledge and the modification of attitudes about the disease (18) . The education level can be considered a determinant factor in the effectiveness of an educational program, especially in patients with DM, who need to acquire certain knowledge to be able to develop their self-care (19) .…”

“…There is evidence that knowledge about the characteristics and complications of diabetes greatly improves the evolution of the disease, because it leads to early detection and to a reduction in the rate of installation of chronic complications (23) . (4,(17)(18) . To increase the knowledge of individuals with DM seems to be essential for reinforcing their ability and confidence to develop self-care actions, which together contribute to better disease management (24) .…”

Avaliação de duas intervenções educativas para a prevenção do Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 em adolescentes

“…Esses achados estão em concordância com outros estudos que mostram, de modo geral, que as intervenções educativas individual e em grupo são eficazes tanto para a prevenção quanto para o tratamento de pessoas com DM e obesidade. [16][17][18][19][20][21] A Associação Americana de Diabetes recomenda intervenções educativas estruturadas, independente da modalidade pela qual são conduzidas, que enfatizem a perda de peso moderada, incluindo a redução de calorias e menor ingestão de gordura no plano alimentar e prática regular de atividade física. 22 Essas intervenções podem aumentar o nível de conhecimento dos alunos sobre os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento do DM2.…”

A proposta da educação permanente em saúde na atualização da equipe de saúde em diabetes mellitus

“…Based on the recovery and reconstruction of knowledge, it was possible to broaden the discussion about the performance of the different health professionals in the prevention of the disease, the care given to the user with Diabetes at the health unit and the importance of the community participation in the elaboration of strategies for the promotion of healthy life habits (4)(5)(6) .…”

“…Some authors (5)(6) add that educational programs in Diabetes, developed by updated health professionals, contribute to the decrease in hospitalizations and to the system users, who start to identify the diseases, to adopt measures for the reduction of risk factors and to receive a treatment that is capable of helping the changes in the behavior associated to the eating pattern and the increase of physical activity for the control of the disease and improvement of life quality.…”