Abstract
1. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a guide to diabetes in the home management of diabetes in childhood.
2. Subjects and Methods: The subjects of this study were 104 guardians of diabetic children who were registered members of the childhood diabetes association in three major districts in western Japan. Firstly, a survey of these subjects was made by contacting them by mailed questionnaire accompanied with multiple answers to each question among which the subjects were asked to choose. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions about general knowledge of diabetes and 20 others pertaining to behavioral changes necessary for the successful home management of juvenile diabetes. Secondly, a guide to diabetes that meets pedagogical requirements was written and named “Textbook of Diabetes Education” by us. This booklet is comprehensible but sufficiently academic, contains a purposeful sequence of units and, moreover, allows the reader to check his or her knowledge of the disease and its management. Thirdly, the booklet was sent by mail to each subject with a request to read it through. Fourthly, the subjects were ontacted once again by the questionnaire sent by mail 8 weeks after they had received the booklet. The usefulness of the booklet was evaluated by comparing the number of correct answers to the questionnaire before and after reading the booklet.
3. Results: Valid responses were obtained from 91 subjects.
(1) The number of correct answers to questions about the general principles of diabetic regimen was significantly greater after (7.6±1.5) than before reading (6.9±1.6)(p<0.001). Frequency distribution of correct answers to questions about general understanding of diabetes mellitus moved to higher scores after presentation with “Textbook of Diabetes Education” (p< 0.10).
(2) The number of correct answers to questions about behavioral changes necessary for the successful home management of diabetes was also significantly greater after (14.2±2.5) than before reading (13.4±2.5)(p<0.01). Frequency distribution of correct answers to questions of special knowledge necessary for the successful home management of diabetes moved to higher scores after presentation of “Textbook of Diabetes Education” (p<0.02).
4. Conclusion: The booklet proved to be of pedagogic value and may be assumed to provide a useful means of giving instruction in diabetes.
