[Evaluation of group and individual strategies in a diabetes education program].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of individual and group strategies in a diabetes education program.


METHODS
A total of 104 type-2 diabetes outpatients enrolled in an education program of a teaching hospital in Belo Horizonte, Southeastern Brazil, were randomly selected and assigned to two different education strategies: group education (54 subjects) and individual education (50 subjects). Group education comprised three monthly sessions, which involved play and interactive dynamics. In parallel, a second group received individual education. Subjects were follow up for six months during 2006 and they were evaluated using specific questionnaires: knowledge of diabetes, psychological attitudes, change in behavior, quality of life. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline, three and six months of intervention.


RESULTS
Mean age was 60.6 years. The results of group and individual education were similar in the assessment tests of attitude, change of behavior and quality of life. A reduction in HbA1c levels was seen in both groups, but a statistically significant difference (p=0.012) was found only in the group education.


CONCLUSIONS
Both strategies of diabetes education were effective, however, group education was more effective than individual education for blood glucose control.
Torres
Heloisa de Carvalho
Hde C
Departamento de Enfermagem Aplicada, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. heloisa@enf.ufmg.br
Franco
Laercio Joel
LJ
Stradioto
Mayra Alves
MA
Hortale
Virginia Alonso
VA
Schall
Virginia Torres
VT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires