title: Health education on diabetes and other non-communicable diseases imparted to teachers shows a cascading effect. A study from Southern India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims were to assess effect of a short training programme on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes on school teachers and also on students who were in turn educated by them. Lifestyle changes made by both groups were assessed 6months later.
  
  
  METHODS
  Graduate teachers (n=1017) from 2 districts in Tamilnadu, India were trained using audio visual aids in batches of 100, on healthy lifestyle practices, prevention and management of diabetes. Pre and post training knowledge scores were assessed using questionnaires. Each teacher was requested to impart similar education to 100 high school students within 3months. Impact of the training on teachers and students was assessed using questionnaires 6months later. Feedback from the students' parents was also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1017 teachers (men: 33.8%, women: 66.2%, urban: 68.8%, rural: 31.1%) were trained. Among them, 651 (men: 31.3%, women: 68.7%) responded for impact evaluation. Changes in knowledge and attitude were reported by 93.7% of teachers. Improvement in lifestyle of the students was assessed by 587 teachers, 60.4% of the students avoided junk foods, 57.5% advised their family members on diabetes. Outdoor games were played by 50.8% of the students. Improvement in knowledge, changes in lifestyle and a positive attitude towards health care delivery were achieved among teachers and students through this training programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant improvement in health perception among the teachers and students occurred even with a short training. It has demonstrated that non-medical personnel like teachers are efficient in disseminating health information on lifestyle diseases especially diabetes.
authors.affiliation: India Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Sundaram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Selvam
authors.affiliation: India Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Narayanasamy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murugesan
authors.affiliation: India Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Chamukuttan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Snehalatha
authors.affiliation: India Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanditha
authors.affiliation: India Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.affiliation: India Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: India Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Susairaj
authors.affiliation: India Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai, India. Electronic address: ramachandran@vsnl.com.
authors.forename: Ambady
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000070260:Teacher Training
keywords: Awareness creation; Diabetes education; Diabetes training for teachers; Non-communicable diseases; Training of students