A preliminary report on an assessment of a community-based intervention for diabetes control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lay diabetes facilitators (LDFs) to increase knowledge and improve control among persons with diabetes. Methodology. A prospective cohort study was conducted among persons with diabetes in 16 health care centres in Jamaica to evaluate the effect of LDFs on glycaemia [haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)] and body mass index (BMI). One hundred and fifty-nine persons with diabetes were recruited for the intervention from eight clinical settings in which LDFs had been recruited and trained. A matched group of 159 were recruited as a comparison sample from eight clinical settings without LDFs. HbA1c and BMI were measured at baseline and 6 months.


RESULTS
Mean HbA1c at baseline for the intervention and comparison groups were 7.9% and 8%, respectively. After 6 months, the intervention group showed a mean decrease of 0.6% while the comparison group showed an increase of 0.6%, significant after control for potential confounders (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant change in BMI between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients educated by LDFs showed improved metabolic control over the first 6 months of observation.
Less
Lurline A
LA
Department of Biochemistry, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. less@cwjamaica.com <less@cwjamaica.com>
Ragoobirsingh
Dalip
D
Morrison
Errol Y
EY
Boyne
Michael
M
Johnson
Pauline Anderson
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003153:Community Health Services; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010379:Peer Group; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin