Diabetes Self-Management Education; Experience of People with Diabetes

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is a major factor which can affects quality of life of people with diabetes (PWD). Understanding the experience of PWD participating in DSME programs is an undeniable necessity in providing effective DSME to this population. The Aim of the study was to explore the experiences of PWD from a local DSME program in Iran. Methods: This study applied a descriptive phenomenological approach. The participants were PWD attending a well-established local DSME program in an endocrinology and diabetes center in Isfahan, Iran. Fifteen participants willing to share their experience about DSME were selected through purposive sampling from September 2011 to June 2012. Data were collected via unstructured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi's approach. Results: The experience of participants were categorized under three main themes including content of diabetes education (useful versus repetitive, intensive and volatile), teaching methods (traditional, technology ignorant) and learning environment (friendly atmosphere, cramped and dark). Conclusion: It seems the current approach for DSME cannot meet the needs and expectations of PWD attending the program. Needs assessment, interactive teaching methods, multidisciplinary approach, technology as well as appropriate physical space need to be considered to improve DSME.

Effect of diabetes self-management education on glycaemic control among type 2 diabetic patients at a family medicine clinic in Kenya: A randomised controlled trial

“… 20 Culture-specific needs assessment ought to be carried out prior to implementing a DSME programme, otherwise, the current approach to DSME will not meet the patients’ expectations. 21 This study recorded a high dropout rate of 31% with similar reasons in both groups. Loss of interest in diabetes education was cited by most of the patients who were lost to follow-up.…”

<p>Effectiveness of Diabetes Self-Management Educational Programs For Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients In Middle East Countries: A Systematic Review</p>

“…20 Regarding the DSME sessions, the greatest effect to improve glycemic control was achieved by studies with few DSME sessions and short contact time. This finding was not in tune with many other reviews and metaanalyses; 20,44 however, Ricci-Cabello and colleagues showed no statistically significant differences for the total duration of the intervention, the number of sessions included the duration of each session, the total number of hours of intervention or its intensity (number of hours per month). 45 Meanwhile, a study conducted in 2017 to explore T2DM patients' preference for DSME showed that patients prefer to be educated through fewer sessions and short periods of time.…”

“…50 Another study showed that supporting DSME with a phone call or written material can increase patient satisfaction and understanding which ultimately can result in better glycemic control. 44 One of the findings of the current review is that theorybased DSME was less effective to improve glycemic control than non-theory-based studies. This was in contrast to the already known that DSME should be theory-based to become more effective.…”

Diabetes management challenges in Iran: A qualitative content analysis

“…Unfortunately, in the diabetes unit under study, the training courses were not welcomed by the patients because of being crowded and not effective and treatment centre's weak performance. In a research about self‐management course, some points like weakness of content, teaching technique and environment were mentioned (Mardanian Dehkordi & Abdoli, ). Generally, diabetic patients need diabetes self‐care course to manage their disease and this course depends on treatment centre and performance and support of care delivery system (Powers et al, ).…”