Comparison of family partnership intervention care vs. conventional care in adult patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes in a community hospital: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Although there is a significant correlation between the degree of family support and clinical outcome, little research has focused on the effectiveness of family partnership intervention care (FPIC) for patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to compare FPIC with conventional care (CC) across a number of outcome measures in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
The study was performed using a randomized controlled trial design.


METHODS
Patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes who were solely treated with oral antidiabetic agents and had at least two out of three hemoglobin A1C readings equal to or above 7% in the previous 12 months, were randomly assigned to the FPIC group (n=28) and to the CC group (n=28).


METHODS
Baseline and 6-month follow-up scores were compared using the following outcome measures: (1) hemoglobin A1C, (2) BMI, (3) lipid profile, (4) family supportive behaviours, (5), knowledge of and attitudes toward diabetes, and (6) diabetes self-care behaviours. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics were employed to compare differences in outcome measures between the groups.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the reduction of hemoglobin A1C levels (p=0.46), lipid profile values (p>0.05), and improvement of diabetes self-care behaviours (p=0.61) between the groups at 6 months post-intervention. However, there were significant differences in the scores of family supportive behaviours (p=0.031) and patients' knowledge of and attitudes toward diabetes between the groups (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the use of FPIC to enhance family supportive behaviours, and to improve patients' knowledge of and attitudes toward diabetes. Thus, the study is of value in helping policy decision-makers to develop more effective diabetes control intervention programmes.
Kang
Chun-Mei
CM
Nursing Department, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. rmei@cgh.org.tw
Chang
Shu-Chuan
SC
Chen
Ping-Ling
PL
Liu
Pei-Fen
PF
Liu
Wen-Cheng
WC
Chang
Chia-Chi
CC
Chang
Wen-Yin
WY
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids