Patients' perspectives on diabetes health care education

Living with Type 2 diabetes requires that patients develop a range of competencies that allow them to take greater control over the treatment of their disease. This requires education that promotes health whilst respecting individuals' self-perceived needs and voluntary choices. Whilst such a concept is not new in the field of diabetes, health professionals are still struggling with how to administer it successfully. This paper presents the findings of a research trial of a theoretically constructed educational intervention. It focuses on the patients' perspectives of what they valued about the intervention which was found to be clinically effective over a short-term period only. Limitations to maintaining effects were associated with a number of factors. The study found that whilst patients can be educated toward greater autonomy, not all health professionals are ready to work in partnership with them. It highlighted the importance of clinical staff not only gaining a better understanding of diabetes management, but also of the theoretical principles underlying patient empowerment. This paper outlines these principles and shows how they were synthesized to produce a framework for informing practice. Patients' views are utilized to provide guidelines for improving the outcomes of patient education.