Kontakt 2008, 10(1):19-31 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2008.003

Evaluation of the efficacy of education of patients in self-management of diabetes mellitusNursing

Elena Gurkova^*, Katarína Žiaková

Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, Ústav ošetrovateľstva

The change in performing activities concerning the self-management of diabetes mellitus depending on the method and course of educational interventions represents an important parameter of the therapeutic value of education which is, however, not evaluated in practice. The purpose of the present work was to specify differences in activities with respect to diabetes self-management among patients on intensified insulin regimens depending on completing a structured educational programme in the National Endocrinological and Diabetological Institute in L'ubochňa. A further purpose of the work was to establish the effect of the implementation of the activities mentioned on their general satisfaction with the treatment. The satisfaction of the patients was evaluated with the help of the questionnaire "Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire". The activities in the diabetes self-management were considered based on a structured dialogue. The sample of respondents included 104 patients with detected first type DM or second type DM hospitalized in the National Endocrinological and Diabetological Institute in L'ubochňa in a period of November 2006 to March 2007. Significant differences in activities important in the diabetes self-management depending on completing the structured educational programme were observed only in the field of using saccharide units (p < 0.05). Statistically non-significant differences were found in performing the regular self-monitoring of glycaemia, adjustments of insulin doses in specific situations as well as in keeping hypoglycaemia records. The lowest satisfaction with the treatment was found in the field of the treatment flexibility. The general satisfaction with the treatment was significantly higher in patients, who implemented a regular glycaemia self-monitoring. The use of saccharide units and adjustments of insulin doses in specific situations had no effect on the general satisfaction with the treatment.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; education in self-management; activities in self-management; satisfaction with the treatment

Received: February 22, 2008; Accepted: April 27, 2008; Prepublished online: June 27, 2008; Published: July 27, 2008  Show citation