Impact Of Peer Education On Self Care In Diabetes Mellitus - A Randomized Control Trial In Urban Field Practice Area

Abstract

Introduction ABSTRACT Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. India will have 80 million diabetics by the year 2030. India has the maximum number of diabetics in the world and rightly declared as the diabetes capital of the world. Health systems throughout the world are looking for more patient centered approaches to make the services more responsive to the patients and the public. Objectives Hence the objectives of the present study were to study the impact of peer education among intervention group with self care management strategy in Diabetes Mellitus by peer educators. Methodology This is a randomized control trial done in the known cases of Diabetes Mellitus on treatment in the age group of more than 25 years residing in the Khasbag Urban Field Practice Area, under J. N. Medical College, Belgaum. These study participants in the intervention group were subjected to six sessions of peer education by diabetic peer educators over a period of six months. These peer educators were trained earlier on all aspects of Diabetes self care. Institutional Ethical clearance was obtained and written and informed consent was taken from the study participants. The impact was assessed in the intervention group and compared with the control group using pre and post test questionnaire. IV Results The mean test scores in the intervention group before and after the intervention were 11.03 ( +2.51) and 20.92 ( +2.34) , the results showed clearly significant improvement in knowledge and attitude and scores in the intervention group, than in the control group, indicating the potential of the peer education model. The study participants could easily recall and associate symptoms of hypoglycemia, blood glucose levels and importance of diet and exercise in Diabetes; however no immediate behavioural changes were seen in the study participants. Conclusion This simple and practical model shows that peer education helps in improving the knowledge about diabetes and thereby bringing about a behavioral change in the patients. This study will also attempt to prove that the simple health education sessions added in the patients’ routine can improve their understanding of the disease and aid in the prevention of the further complications; thereby reduce the burden and the health expenditure on the disease.