Effect of Group Diabetes Self-Management Education Classes on Clinical Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction in a Family Medicine Clinic

Abstract

Background: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has emphasized the need for patients to receive diabetes self-management education (DSME) as a standard of care. Various DSME models have been described, including individual or group sessions. There is no preferred method reported in the literature. Objectives: To determine the effect of group DSME classes on patients' hemoglobin A1c (A1C), blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Patient satisfaction was also assessed. Methods: Pharmacists offered 4 group education classes to patients over the course of 1 year using the ADA Diabetes Conversation Maps. Patients were encouraged to attend all sessions to cover the entire curriculum; however, many attended only 1 class. Patient A1C, BP, and LDL-C were monitored before the first class and after the last class attended. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Thirty-two patients attended at least 1 of the group classes, and 9 returned for more than 1 class. Baseline characteristics included a mean age of 58 years, baseline A1C of 9.4%, systolic BP of 140.6 mm Hg, diastolic BP of 77.2 mm Hg, and LDL-C of 99.1 mg/dL. An average decrease of 1.1% in A1C, 5.1 mm Hg in systolic BP, 1.9 mm Hg in diastolic BP, and 4.6 mg/dL in LDL-C was seen from baseline after class participation. For patients who attended more than 1 class, a statistically significant decrease of 3.6% occurred in A1C (p < 0.05). The majority of patients (84%) reported greater satisfaction with the group DSME as compared with individual diabetes education. Conclusions: Data from this study support offering group DSME classes as a method of patient education at a family medicine clinic.