title: Evaluation of an activated patient diabetes education newsletter.
abstract: This study evaluated a monthly, activated patient newsletter sent to over 7000 patients in Michigan with diabetes. The newsletter provided concise and action-oriented information about diabetes care. Patients who had signed up to receive the newsletter during the first 4 months of the project (1863) were surveyed to determine how many patients found the newsletter helpful; 80% (1498) of the patients replied. Patients who found the newsletter most helpful were older; had lower incomes, and reported more complications, less understanding of diabetes, and being in poorer overall health. They also were more likely to have non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) than insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We concluded that the activated patient newsletter is a useful public health/patient education intervention for persons with diabetes. Such a newsletter should be part of a coordinated system of ongoing patient care, education, screening, and social and psychological support.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Funnell
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stepien
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hiss
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Armbruster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors