Instruments to tailor care of people with type 2 diabetes

This paper is a report of a study conducted to assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention for people with type 2 diabetes based on self-completed instruments to identify particular areas of self-care needs.

Diabetes is a demanding disease which requires self-care. Instruments that identify self-care needs or factors affecting self-care can be helpful to detect level of self-care, distress or knowledge among individuals with diabetes.

Participants were randomized into intervention (n = 28) or control groups (n = 25). Both groups answered five validated instruments three times, at baseline and after 3 and 6 months, and biological measurements were conducted simultaneously. The intervention was based on an empowerment approach. The study started in November 2005 and lasted until March 2007.

There was no statistically significant difference between groups in level of glycated haemoglobin postintervention as it reduced statistically significantly in both groups between baseline and 3 months but increased again after 6 months. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in body mass index reduction; the intervention group achieved a statistically significant body mass index reduction but this was unchanged in the control group. No statistically significant differences between groups were found in scores for empowerment, well-being and distress. There was a statistically significant difference between groups in knowledge postintervention.

Use of instruments to identify self-care needs can enable patient-tailored care as it allows direct focusing on issues that are challenging and of relevance for each individual. It seems to be feasible to use the telephone to conduct an empowering educational intervention after one meeting.