title: Long-term interactive group education for type 1 diabetic patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of an Interactive Educational and Support Group programme (IESG) for patients with type 1 diabetes. A sample of 96 type 1 diabetic outpatients was studied measuring the effects of participation in IEGS on metabolic control and diabetes-related quality of life (QoL). Those refusing to participate (n = 48) and a sample of 37 patients who were not invited to IESG (control) where studied for comparison. After one year, participants showed a significant (p < 0.05) improvement of HbA(1c) from 7.7+/-1.6 to 7.2+/-1.5%, whereas no variation of HbA(1c) was observed in non-participants and controls. No significant variation of QoL was observed in any of the three groups. At two-years follow-up, HbA(1c) of the patients attending IESG was not significantly different from that at one-year follow-up, and it was significantly lower than that observed at enrolment. QoL showed a significant improvement at 2 years with respect to baseline and one-year follow-up. In conclusion, this programme appears to be effective in the improvement of medium term metabolic control and QoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathophysiology Endocrinology Unit, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, I-50139, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mannucci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rotella
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin