Follow-up intervention: its effect on compliance behavior to a diabetes regimen

This study tested the hypothesis that follow-up intervention (by telephone calls and home visit) affects compliance in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Sixty NIDDM patients were randomly assigned to two groups--a control group, which received the standard protocol (3-day educational program and a review session 1 month after the program); and an intervention group, which received the standard protocol as well as a series of four telephone calls and one home visit by a registered nurse over a 3-month period. Compliance to prescribed regimens was determined by analyzing three sets of data: changes in pre- to poststudy glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values; changes in pre- to poststudy weight; and frequency with which self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) was practiced. Results showed that SMBG practice was significantly better for the intervention group. No significant differences were seen in poststudy HbA1c values and weight changes between the two groups. Follow-up intervention by telephone calls and home visit can enhance patient compliance to certain aspects of the prescribed diabetes management plan.