The effectiveness of an education intervention based on self-care model on diabetes self-management behaviors

Abstract

Background: The needs of diabetic patients are not only limited to adequate glycemic control but also correspond with preventing complications and increasing their awareness to participate in self-management.

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of an education intervention based on self-care model on diabetes self-management behavior (DSM behaviour).

Design: Pre-test post-test non-equivalent quasi-experimental study design.

Setting: Thika level 5 hospital (TL5H) and Kiambu level 5 hospital (KL5H) diabetic clinics.

Subjects: 96 adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) obtained by stratified random sampling technique and assigned into experimental (48 respondents) and control group (48 respondents).

Intervention: Four sessions, 8-hours educational programme, over a period of 4 months.

Main outcome measure: Diabetes self-management behaviors were evaluated in the first and seventh month using The Summary of Diabetes Self Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire. Paired sample T-Test and Independent T-test was used to analyze data.

Results: Paired sample T-test statistical revealed a significant difference in increasing level of DSM Behaviour (p<0.05) before and after the intervention; Independent T-test discovered a significant difference on DSM Behaviour (p<0.05) between the intervention and control group.

Conclusion: Education intervention based on self-care model is an effective program that can improve DSM Behaviour. In addition, the education intervention based on self-care model needs to be implemented continuously to prevent complications and improve self-care to diabetic patients.