Patient education is believed to be an effective treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus, and diabetes mellitus education classes play an important role in patient education. During this study, we evaluated the effects of a diabetes mellitus education class that was developed as a result of the findings of an antidiabetic drug-awareness questionnaire entitled : “Self-diagnosis for Proper Drug Use.”
Eighty patients participated in the diabetes mellitus education class that was held at our hospital from January to April 1999. A total of 66 patients (65.7+ /-8.6yr, 31 male, 35 female, BMI 22.3+ /-4.4kg/m2) who replied to the questionnaire “Self-diagnosis for Proper Drug Use” were included in the study. Sixty-five patients who attended the “Drugs Often Used for Diabetes Mellitus” lecture between October 1999 and January 2000 were included as controls. The questionnaire “Self-diagnosis for Proper Drug Use” focused on group work, and included questions that the patients could easily answer about their medication. Changes in blood sugar control index (HbAlc value) were measured when patients attended the education class, and 6 months and 1 year after the class.
In the group taking a self-diagnosis for proper drug use and controls, the mean HbAlc level at 6 months was (6.36+/-1.01%), (6.88+/-1.14%) and that of about 1 year was (6.44+/-1.40%), (6.74+/-0.82%). However, in comparison to the controls, a significant difference was seen in the degree of improvement in HbAlc levels about 6 months and 1 year later (p = 0.02). These findings suggest that the diabetes mellitus education class that was introduced by“ Self-diagnosis for Proper Drug Use” had a positive influence on patients with diabetes and thereby helped these patients to achieve proper blood sugar control levels.
