Clinical Evaluation of the Impact of a Patient Education Program

Abstract

A 5-day patient education program, taught on an outpatient basis, was evaluated to determine its effect on metabolic control as reflected by glycosylated hemoglobin test values. A quasi- experimental design was used, consisting of a pretest, a posttest, and a follow-up assessment made approximately 6 months after the posttest. The 72 experimental and 324 comparison subjects all had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), were between 14 and 78 years of age, and had a duration of diabetes ranging from 1 to 20 years. The experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in Hb A1 values from pre- to posttest and sustained these posttest levels upon follow-up, although not at statistically significant levels. The comparison group showed no pre- to posttest difference, but demon strated an improvement from posttest to follow-up assessment.