Evaluation of an activated patient diabetes education newsletter.
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.
Anderson
R M
RM
Fitzgerald
J T
JT
Funnell
M M
MM
Barr
P A
PA
Stepien
C J
CJ
Hiss
R G
RG
Armbruster
B A
BA
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