Patient Knowledge Compared With National Guidelines for Diabetes Care

Data collected on a randomly selected group of 428 patients with insulin-dependent and noninsulin-dependent diabetes from 61 physician practices in eight Michigan communities were compared with national standards for diabetes patient knowledge. Comparisons were performed using a standardized Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT) and selected items from the Diabetes Education Profile (DEP). Patient performance on these instruments was compared with corresponding items in the Ambulatory Care Facilities section of the Guide lines for Diabetes Care published by the American Diabetes Associ ation and the American Associ ation of Diabetes Educators. In general, insulin-dependent persons scored higher than noninsulin-dependent persons. Those taking insulin (whether insulin-dependent or not) scored higher than noninsulin-dependent persons whose regimen did not include insulin. The findings emphasize the need to subdivide any analysis of clinical diabetes or diabetes education into groups based on insulin use or nonuse.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69139/2/10.1177_014572178801400312.pd

Evaluation of an Activated Patient Diabetes Education Newsletter

This study evaluated a monthly; activated patient newsletter sent to over 7000 patients in Michigan with diabetes. The newsletter provided concise and action-oriented information about diabetes care. Patients who had signed up to receive the newsletter during the first 4 months of the project (1863) were surveyed to determine how many patients found the newsletter helpful; 80% (1498) of the patients replied. Patients who found the newsletter most helpful were older, had lower incomes, and reported more corrtplications, less understanding of diabetes, and being in poorer overall health. They also were more likely to have non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) than insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We concluded that the activated patient newsletter is a useful public health/patient education intervention for persons with diabetes. Such a newsletter should be part of a coordinated system of ongoing patient care, education, screening, and social and psychological support.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68904/2/10.1177_014572179402000106.pd

The Diabetes Education Experience of Randomly Selected Patients Under the Care of Community Physicians

The purpose of this study was to describe the diabetes education and nutritional counseling received by patients under the active care of community physicians. The study population consisted of 440 patients with diabetes from the practices of 68 primary care physicians in eight Michigan communities. Fifty-eight percent of the sample reported having received diabetes education, and the mean number of years since the most recent education was 4.15 years. Sixty-six percent reported having seen a dietitian. Patients who had received diabetes education scored higher on a basic diabetes knowledge test (70% correct vs 60%) than patients who had not received diabetes education. From 1981 to 1991, a decline was observed in the percentage of patients who reported having received diabetes education (70% to 58%). Although patient education is an integral part of comprehensive diabetes care, too few patients are receiving it. Furthermore, diabetes education often results in less-than-optimal levels of knowledge. The situation has deteriorated over the past 10 years, and patients who are not on insulin typically are the least well served.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68590/2/10.1177_014572179402000506.pd