Evaluation of the "Know Your Health" program for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension in a large employer group.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of an educational intervention program on clinical outcomes and on compliance with medical therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, or both.


METHODS
Six-month randomized unblinded study.


METHODS
Three hundred fifty-two patients were screened, and 347 were randomized to the intervention group (education through the Know Your Health [KYH] program [n = 174]) or to the control group (usual care [n = 173]). Evaluation of the effectiveness of the KYH program was based on the cohort of patients who were not at goal at baseline (124 in the intervention group and 115 in the control group). The primary research interests were to assess patient acceptance of the KYH materials and to compare the clinical outcomes of the intervention group with those of the control group.


RESULTS
After 6 months, significantly more patients in the intervention group than in the control group were at goal (44.2% vs 29.2%, P = .046). Among patients with hypertension, reductions in the mean diastolic blood pressure were significantly greater in the intervention group compared with the control group at month 6 (-6.7 vs -3.6 mm Hg, P = .04). The groups did not differ significantly on other primary end points (percentage of patients with DM who were at goal, change from baseline glycosylated hemoglobin level, and change in Morisky score).


CONCLUSIONS
Participation in the KYH educational program during a 6-month period improved clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 DM or hypertension. The KYH materials were well received and were considered informative and easily comprehensible by patients who completed the program.
Thomas
Pamella D
PD
Pfizer Inc, 235 E 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017, USA.
Miceli
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States