Effectiveness of patient education on glycemic control in insulin treated patients in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of a patient education program on diabetes control.


METHODS
A pre-test post-test pre experimental study was performed with 87 insulin treated diabetic patients followed in the chronic disease unit of Kelibia district (Nabeul, Tunisia). Subjects received education in 6 monthly sessions. Outcome measures included glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), anxiety level according to the Hamilton scale and Body Mass Index. Changes were assessed after the 6 month program.


RESULTS
HbA1c decreased from 8.8% +/- 1.23 to 7,6 +/- 1.43 (P<10-6) with an increase in the prevalence of satisfactory HbA1c (< or = 8%) from 33% to 61.2% (P<0,001). The prevalence of severe anxiety decreased by about a third (P < 0,001).


CONCLUSIONS
Education led to an improvement in diabetes control in insulin treated diabetic patients. More attention should be paid to such strategies in general practice.
Jenhani
M
M
District Hospital of Kelibia, Nabeul, Tunisia.
Gaha
K
K
Nabouli
R
R
Ghedira
A
A
Ben Abdelaziz
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004522:Educational Status; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014416:Tunisia
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin