Hospital diabetes education: classroom and self-instruction

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of two approaches to instructing hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus on the food exchange system. Both groups were given the same pretest and post-test, but one group received self-instruction and the other group received classroom instruction. The pretest scores of the two groups indicated differences in their initial understanding of the food exchange system. The mean score on the pretest for the classroom instruction group was 1.95 points higher than for the self-instruction group on the 18-point test. The self-instruction group gained 3.45 more points than the classroom instruction group on their post-test scores. An analysis of gain between pretest and post-test for both groups indicated that both treatments could be considered effective. However, when the pretest was analyzed as an independent variable, it was shown to have an influence on the post-test results. In controlling for the pretest in the analysis of covariance, the LAP treatment was found to be more effective than the classroom instruction for teaching patients with diabetes mellitus about the food exchange system. As diabetes affects persons from all demographic groups, a variety of programs are needed to meet individual needs (15). Demands for education programs in institutions are being met as patients' needs change. The two instructional approaches assessed in this research are recommended as viable options to use in educating the increasing number of persons with diabetes mellitus.