Patient education classes in general practice

This article describes the implementation and evaluation of a demonstration practice grant project that concerned patient education classes in general practice. The classes covered four common and important chronic conditions: hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, asthma and diabetes. Altogether, 10 one and a half hour classes were conducted in late 1992 by the author, who is an associate in a large group practice. Fifty-five people out of 113 who were invited attended, giving an average of 5 to 6 people per session. Pre- and post-knowledge questionnaires assessed the short term impact of the classes; the overall mean improvement in questions answered correctly following the discussion was 10 per cent. Satisfaction with the classes was very high. The most likely long-term difficulties with classes such as these are in the recruitment of patients and the time commitment required by the session leader. The use of computerised patient databases and greater assistance by non doctor personnel, for example, nurses, may help to overcome these problems.