Evaluation of an audiovisual diabetes education program

Abstract

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to determine whether an education program specifically designed for patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes and limited literacy could improve and sustain glucose and weight control. From a referral clinic, 120 obese (greater than 130 per cent of ideal body weight) diabetic patients who were not taking insulin were recruited. Of these, 55 per cent were female and 49 per cent were black; the mean age was 53 years. Mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1%) was 10.2 per cent. Each subject was assigned to one of three groups: monthly group sessions with videotapes for diabetic persons with low literacy skills; monthly group sessions without videotapes; or no monthly sessions. After seven months, there had been 16 dropouts (13 per cent). Differences in weight changes between groups were significant (p less than 0.05); group 1 lost a median of 1 kg of weight (p less than 0.05) compared with a 0.1-kg loss and no change in groups 2 and 3, respectively. This weight loss was not sustained at 11 months. There was no significant change in HbA1%. Age, education, and compliance beliefs did not predict outcome. The authors conclude that the patient education programs did not result in sustained glucose or weight control.

Interventions to improve health outcomes for patients with low literacy

“…Among the 73 articles retained, 44 examined associations between literacy and health outcomes and are reported in a separate publication 3 . Of the 29 articles on interventions, we excluded 9 articles because they did not measure literacy in their study population 8–15 or were conducted in a developing country 16 …”

Psychological Motivation and Patient Education: A Role for Continuous Glucose Monitoring

“…1,[11][12][13] Information about diabetes without the tools to manage it can be overwhelming. Often treatment goals cannot then be met, making the patient feel frustrated or inadequate.…”

Clinician-Created Educational Video Resources for Shared Decision-making in the Outpatient Management of Chronic Disease: Development and Evaluation Study

“…Patient education has been shown to be more effective when delivered in an audiovisual format than when presented solely through visual pamphlets or verbal one-to-one dialogue [30]. However, clinical utility for the management of chronic disease is limited when audiovisual patient education has required additional outpatient appointments [31]. This intervention used shorter duration, highly focused videos, allowing delivery in the waiting room so that patients would not have to make additional visits.…”