Diabetes Education: Whose Priorities Are Met?

Abstract

Two hundred Type 2 diabetic patients newly referred to the diabetes centre at a large university teaching hospital were studied over an 8-month period. Patients completed a diabetes knowledge questionnaire, and specified their educational priorities by selecting six diabetes-related topics from a list of 14. After giving 1 h of individual education and using the same list, the educators selected six topics which they considered to be most important for that particular patient to know. Choice of educational priorities differed between the patients and the corresponding educator (p less than 0.001). In only 38% of cases did the educators' first three priorities coincide with those of the patients. The major discrepancies were in the selection of 'sick day management' and 'complications', especially favoured by patients, as against 'oral hypoglycaemic agents' and other therapy-related topics, especially favoured by educators. Diabetes knowledge was a determinant of educational priority for patients (p less than 0.001) but not educators. In contrast, only the educators' overall choices were affected by duration of diabetes (p less than 0.001). Diabetes treatment type influenced both patients' and educators' selection of priorities (p less than 0.001). We conclude that an educational strategy which relies on health professionals' perceptions to determine what diabetic patients need to know may be inadequate.

Clinical guidelines about diabetes and the accuracy of peer information in an unmoderated online health forum for retired persons

“…The role of diet and physical activity for health, especially in regard to diabetes, are increasingly common media messages that could influence topic knowledge and salience especially for those dealing with a recent diagnosis. Concerns may also be influenced by the type of diabetes treatment received [21]. However, to maintain privacy and anonymity of chat room participants, we were unable to obtain information about individual diabetes diagnosis and treatment status.…”

Impaired Glucose Tolerance and NIDDM: Does a Lifestyle Intervention Program Have an Effect?

“…Glasgow and Osteen (47) have recently suggested that the evaluation of an education program is often confined to measures of glycemic control and knowledge that is inadequate. Other authors have also suggested that there needs to be more consideration of the beliefs and behavior of people with NIDDM and greater use of education methods addressing patient-centered perspectives, self-efficacy, and empowerment issues (48)(49)(50).…”

Insulin injection practices

“…Intensive diabetes therapy includes, in addition to intensive insulin treatment, blood glucose home monitoring and intensive patient education 3. Multiple injection therapy has made the treatment of diabetes more flexible, but also imposes greater demands in relation to self‐care of diabetes 4. New devices developed for injecting insulin, such as the insulin pen and a variety of needles, require new skills 5.…”