The impact of local, validated structured education programmes on self-care activities in people with diabetes
Published Date: 07th October 2020
Publication Authors: Furlong NJ, Westall S, Cardwell J, Jackson J, Cairns J, Mitchell L, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Narayanan RP, Hardy KJ
Background and Aim
Better glycaemic control is exhibited in patients with higher self‐care abilities. The Summary of Diabetes Self‐Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire measures diabetes self‐care activities. As part of a local, validated structured education programme, we measure the SDSCA scores before and after completing structured education. Scores are outputted as ‘number of good days per week’ on a scale of 0–7.
Methods
Patients completed baseline and endpoint SDSCA questionnaires between December 2017 and August 2019. Data from the questionnaires were analysed in Excel with the ‘Analysis ToolPak’.
Results
A total of 49 patients with type 1 diabetes, mean age 45, showed improvement in ‘foot care’ activities, with a mean score improving from 2.4 to 3.3 (p < 0.05). Scores in other domains of ‘general diet’, ‘specific diet’, ‘exercise’, ‘blood glucose testing’ and ‘smoking status’ showed no improvement. A total of 359 patients with type 2 diabetes, mean age 64, showed improvement in ‘general diet’, with a mean score improving from 4.4 to 4.7 (p < 0.05), and in ‘foot care’, from 2.3 to 3.1 (p < 0.05). Scores in other domains showed no improvement.
Conclusions
Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes showed statistically significant improvement in foot care activities following attendance to structured education. In addition, patients with type 2 diabetes showed improvement in general diet (focussed on healthy eating and following their eating plans). A review of programme content may help us improve more domains of self‐care to enhance coping mechanisms for patients.
Furlong, N; Westall, SJ; Cardwell, J; Jackson, J; Cairns, J; Mitchell, L; Bujawansa, S; McNulty, S; Narayanan, R; Hardy, K . (2020). The impact of local, validated structured education programmes on self-care activities in people with diabetes. Diabetic Medicine. 37 (S1), 101