Evaluation of diabetic education : a randomized controlled trial of video tapes about diabetic education plus nurse aid consultation versus diabetic nurse educator consultation in uncontrolled non-insulin dependent diabeter mellitus

Abstract

Background : Poor control of diabetes mellitus leads to acute and chronic complications. Diabetic education is needed to improve knowledge, attitude, practice and improve glycemic control. Objective : To compare the proportion of uncontrolled NIDDM who receive the program of video tapes about diabetic education plus nurse aid consultation versus diabetic nurse educator consultation. Design : A randomized controlled trial at the diabetic clinic of Pramongkutklao hospital. Results : 285 uncontrolled NIDDM patients were recruited in this study, 144 patients were in the intervention program of video tapes about diabetic education plus nurse aid consultation and 141 patients received education from diabetic nurse educator. The baseline characteristics in both groups were similar. At the end of study, there was no significant difference of the reduction of the proportion of uncontrolled NIDDM in both groups. There was a statistically significant difference of drug use pattern in the intervention group when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The main influence may be the higher rate of the change of physicians in the intervention group during the study. There were no significant differences of knowledge, body weight change and diabetic practice (measured by recall) in both groups. The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the intervention program was more Expensive than the control program when calculated for cost/good control of NIDDM. Conclusions : The program of video tapes about diabetic education plus nurse aid[ consultation can be used for diabetic education in some conditions with no diabetic nurse educator. However the program was less cost-effective than the standard diabetic nurse educator consultation alone.