[Development and outcome of motivational support during inpatient education of insulin-dependent diabetic patients--a...

At the Ulm University Hospital 43 type-1-diabetes patients took part in a structured in-patient diabetes education program during a 12-day hospitalization period. 27 of the patients received an additional motivational support program which addressed psychological and social impediments related to the topics of the structured diabetes education program. 16 patients underwent the structured diabetes education program only. Motivational support aimed at reducing the specifically addressed sociopsychological barriers. Thus, the effects of the structured diabetes education program should be stabilized and an optimal outcome insured. All patients were asked to complete a questionnaire before, right after and 3 months after the program. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) was evaluated before and 3 months after the program. Patients who underwent the motivational support program still felt 3 months after completion of the program that metabolic control was important, whereas patients without motivational support did not. Metabolic control--as indicated by measurement of glycosylated hemoglobin--could be maintained in the patient group with motivational support. Although their blood glucose levels had been in the normal range to start with. These encouraging results suggest implementation of a motivational support program into standard diabetes education programs for type-I-diabetes patients.