Group-Based Diabetes Education: Impact on Indicators of Health Outcomes, Access and Satisfaction Over 24 Months

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the impact of implementing groupbased diabetes education with an individualized component. The variables evaluated were access to service, selected health indicators and client satisfaction. Two hundred and forty-four clients with type 2 diabetes (60 newly diagnosed and 184 previously diagnosed) were recruited during year 1 of this 2-year study. Selected health indicators were measured at baseline and at 12 and 24 months after the introduction of group sessions. Data were also collected to evaluate access and client satisfaction. At 12 months, 90.9% of newly diagnosed clients (n=20) had reduced their glycated hemoglobin (A1C), while 54.4% (n=49) and 57.1% (n=36) of previously diagnosed clients had A1C reductions at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Other key indicators of health outcomes (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference and albumin: creatinine ratio) either showed statistically significant improvements or were maintained (non significant differences). The results also indicate benefits in terms of access to service. These findings, together with the fact that clients were either satisfied with or neutral toward group services, suggest that standardized group education sessions with an individualized assessment component can be an effective model of care for both newly and previously diagnosed clients.