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

PurposeThe 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.MethodsNinety 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 12weeks, while the UC group received two brief individual sessions at 0 and 12weeks. 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 32weeks) to assess patients' satisfaction, attitudes toward diabetes and dietary knowledge.ResultsAll 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 32weeks Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction (DTSQ Q1+Q4-8) significantly improved in the CM group (25.84.5 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).Conclusionsp id=Par4 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.