A comparison of diabetes learning with and without interactive multimedia to improve knowledge, control, and self-care among people with diabetes in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
Given the increased popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), this study aimed to evaluate the effects of interactive media on self-directed learning in patients' knowledge of diabetes and related CAM/TCM strategies, the ability to control blood sugar levels, and self-care in people with diabetes.


METHODS
An experimental study design was used. The experimental group received patient education through interactive multimedia about diabetes for 3 months, while the control group received a routine 3-month patient education.


METHODS
On completion, 60 subjects from Taiwan were evaluated-30 in an experimental group and 30 in a control group.


METHODS
Data were collected from both groups at baseline and at the completion of the patient education. The findings were then compared to evaluate the effects of the intervention on the subjects' knowledge of diabetes, blood sugar control, and self-care.


RESULTS
The experimental group showed greater improvement in understanding diabetes than the control (t=3.29, p<.001). There was no significant difference in control of blood sugar levels (t=-1.72, p=.10) and self-care (F=1.03, p=.32).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of an interactive multimedia device to intervene in diabetes self-care was effective only in raising the subjects' knowledge about the disease. Additionally, the subjects may need more time to implement more effective blood sugar control and self-care activities after receiving instruction.
Huang
Ju-Ping
JP
School of Nursing, National Taipei College of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Chen
Hsing-Hsia
HH
Yeh
Mei-Ling
ML
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019212:Multimedia / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D014584:User-Computer Interface
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin