The feasibility of a self-management education program for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Do the perceptions of patients and educators match?
OBJECTIVE
To compare the feasibility experienced by patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a self-management educational program to the hindrance assessed by the educator of the program.


METHODS
Twenty-five type 2 diabetes patients on maximally tolerated oral hypoglycaemic agents followed a 6-month educational program consisting of five components: background, medication, physical exercise, nutrition and blood glucose self-monitoring. Medication was unchanged during the study. Outcome measures were feasibility encountered by the patient, hindrance observed by the educator and HbA(1c)-level.


RESULTS
The feasibility encountered by patients was significantly related to the hindrance assessed by the educators (rho 0.756, p<0.001). Feasibility increased significantly for three components but not for physical exercise and nutritional advice. Mean HbA(1c)-level decreased from 8.2+/-1.1% before onset of the program to 7.2+/-1.3% 6 weeks after termination of the program.


CONCLUSIONS
Feasibility experienced by the patients matched the hindrance noticed by the educators. This might have led to an increase in patients' self-efficacy, which in turn gives an improvement in self-management and glycaemic control.
Kerssen
Anneloes
A
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. A.Kerssen-2@umcutrecht.nl
Goudswaard
Alex N
AN
Quartel
Marije
M
Zuithoff
Nicolaas P A
NP
Rutten
Guy E H M
GE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents