Does a multidisciplinary diabetes group education visit improve patient outcomes?
OBJECTIVE
Diabetes is a significant and growing public health concern, and patient education is the primary approach for self-management. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of a single session diabetes group education intervention.


METHODS
The design is a one-group pretest/posttest evaluation. Participants were adult outpatients with diabetes who attended a single session group education visit and volunteered to participate in the study. Survey questions include the Single Item Literacy Screener and diabetes knowledge questions. The survey was mailed and collected before the group visit. Diabetes knowledge was collected immediately after the group visit and again by telephone one to four months later. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipids, and blood pressure were collected from the patient electronic medical record before and, where available, three months after the group visit. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics and Students t-testing to determine pre- and posttest differences of diabetes knowledge and physiological markers.


RESULTS
Thirty-eight adult outpatients participated in the study. Nearly half responded that they never needed to have someone help with written medical materials. There was a significant increase from pretest to immediate posttest diabetes knowledge scores (N = 3; M = 5.58 to M = 7.53 out of 10), t(38) = -5.217, p = < 0.001 and a significant decrease in HbA1c from pretest to posttest group education (M = 9.16 to M = 8.52), t(27) = 2.185, p = .038.


CONCLUSIONS
A single session diabetes group education visit is effective in increasing patients' diabetes knowledge and decreasing HbA1c levels.
O'Dell
Kristi J
KJ
University of Mississippi, Department of Social Work, Oxford, MS 38677, USA. kjodell@olemiss.edu
O'Dell
Michael L
ML
Taylor
James L
JL
D000328:Adult; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human