Short-term efficacy of high intensity group and individual education in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized single-center trial

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 403 - 409
• Main Authors: Reale, R., Tumminia, A., Romeo, L., La Spina, N., Baratta, R., Padova, G., Tomaselli, L., Frittitta, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Body mass index; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Drug therapy; Education; Endocrinology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Original Article; Patients; Type 2 diabetes; Individual education; Conversation map; Treatment satisfaction
• ISSN: 1720-8386; 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.1007/s40618-018-0929-6

Purpose The aim of this randomized study was to examine the efficacy of two high intensity educational programs: the conversation maps-based (CM™) education and the individual education (IE), compared to usual care (UC) in a cohort of type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients. Methods Ninety T2DM outpatients (30 per group) were randomized and 79 finished the study and were analyzed. The CM™ and IE groups received four educational sessions at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks, while the UC group received two brief individual sessions at 0 and 12 weeks. We evaluated glycemic control (HbA1c), diabetes treatment, body mass index (BMI) and carried out a questionnaire survey at three time points (before intervention, at 12 and at 32 weeks) to assess patients’ satisfaction, attitudes toward diabetes and dietary knowledge. Results All the three groups showed a significant and comparable reduction of both HbA1c and BMI. Diabetes therapy needed to be reinforced in a higher percentage of cases (39.3%) among UC patients compared to the IE (14.8%; p  = 0.04) and the CM™ (8.3%; p  = 0.01) groups. At 32 weeks Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction (DTSQ Q1 + Q4–8) significantly improved in the CM™ group (25.8 ± 4.5 vs. 22.4 ± 6.0; p  < 0.01) and attitudes toward diabetes (ATT19) significantly improved in the IE group (58.0 ± 4.7 vs. 55.3 ± 5.1; p  = 0.02). Conclusions Our trial provides preliminary data regarding the efficacy of structured group and individual education on achieving better glyco-metabolic control without drug therapy reinforcement and with positive effects on patients’ attitude and treatment satisfaction.