Statements to Assess Diabetes Knowledge (SADK) Questionnaire Used for Non-South-Asian Patients with Type 2 Diabetes - ‘Can one Shoe fit all’?

Abstract

Education is a vital ingredient in the management of Diabetes Background: NICE recommends well designed and structured diabetes educational programmes to all patients at the time of diagnosis and with annual updates. This article aims to discuss the importance of assessing knowledge pre and post education, as this allowed the team to ascertain existing knowledge and identified areas for development. Aims and objectives: The Statements to Assess Diabetes Knowledge (SADK) questionnaire was used in non-South Asian patients with type 2 diabetes to assess patients' learning. It was used to identify gaps in diabetes knowledge. Learning was 'quantified' by measuring recalled information immediately post-education session and at six months during a reunion session. The tool also allowed the team, which consisted of a diabetes specialist nurse and dietician, to assess gaps in the structured education programme being delivered. The SADK was originally adapted from a Mexican tool,1 redesigned, and piloted as part of an MSc Thesis in 2005,2 to assess basic diabetes knowledge in South Asian patients with type 2 diabetes. The results of the pilot study were published in an article in 2008.3 Methods: A questionnaire Statement to Assess Diabetes Knowledge (SADK) was given to all attendees at prior to and after attending the course and again after 6months. All completed forms were collated and assessed. HbA1c results pre and post were also collected but unable to report in this article. All patients were referred into services run by Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Partnership Trust. Results: 203 non-South Asian patients were referred and attended for type 2 education over a 12months period from January 2012 to 2013 which was run at local sites. i. 183(90%) of patients stated that English was their spoken or preferred language. ii. None of the patients stated that they required an interpreter however 9% gave no response with one patient who stated Spanish. iii. In 173(85%) of the patients the SADK scores had improved. iv. In 14(7%) patients-had no change in their scores. v. In 16(8%) patients scores had declined. vi. The biggest improvement at this stage was question 6, 'If I am a diabetic, my children have a bigger chance of becoming diabetic'. 28% of attendees completed the questionnaire at 6months. Of these, 81% had improved their scores at 6months. vii. 23 out of the 24 questions had shown further improvements at 6months compared to pre course results. Conclusion: Findings demonstrated that the SADK questionnaire is useful in showing that learning had occurred with increased diabetes understanding. The SADK model has been shown to be an effective tool in identifying knowledge-gaps in non-South Asian patients with type 2 diabetes by assessing existing diabetes knowledge. Hence this article shows that structured education to newly diagnosed patients with diabetes has been beneficial, assessed using the SADK tool, with knowledge being absorbed and retained at 6months. Therefore it is concluded that the SADK tool is suitable for...