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Download: Summary Success Story (PDF 161KB) / Full Success Story (PDF 163KB)
The challenge:
South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust wanted to change the way it delivered patient education to people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Rather than offering individual education sessions, the Trust wanted to offer group sessions. Additionally, the consultant diabetologist wanted to assess the effectiveness of short vs. long term group education.
The aim:
The aim of the project was to provide group education for people with type 2 diabetes in the South Devon Healthcare district with a view to achieving better control of risk factors for diabetes in the long term.
What did they do?
People newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were offered the opportunity to attend group education sessions in their own locality, usually in community hospitals. The education consisted of three sessions delivered at monthly intervals consisting of:
- General education and screening for complications including examination of the feet. A five day food record was also issued.
- The five day food record was discussed individually as well as a group discussion of dietary issues. A second five day food record was then given.
- A review of diet and discussion about exercise finishing off with general questions and answers.
One hundred patients agreed to participate in the study itself. Each patient was randomly allocated to either a further series of group meetings with dieticians and exercise experts, plus group visits to the supermarket to help with food shopping, for a period of three years, or to six monthly reviews by the practice nurse.
The set up, discussion and training, and delivery of the group education cost £35,000.
What happened?
After 3 months there were reductions in patients weight and waist circumference and improvements in their lipid levels and disease knowledge score. After the 3 year follow up, the study showed that practice nurse care was as effective as the continued group education. The findings are summarised in the table opposite.
| Intensive | 3 Months | 36 Months |
|---|---|---|
| Body mass index (BMI) | 32.9 ± 5.5 | 32.9 ± 6.3 |
| Blood pressure (systolic) | 145.4 ± 15.6 | 138.6 ± 18.0 |
| Blood press (diastolic) | 82.1 ± 9.8 | 78.5 ± 8.7 |
| Waist (cm) | 109.1 ± 13.2 | 108.6 ± 14.6 |
| Control | 3 Months | 36 Months |
|---|---|---|
| Body mass index (BMI) | 33.0 ± 6.3 | 32.9 ± 5.6 |
| Blood pressure (systolic) | 145.5 ± 18.1 | 137.3 ± 17.3 |
| Blood press (diastolic) | 82.8 ± 8.7 | 79.8 ± 8.6 |
| Waist (cm) | 106.9 ± 12.3 | 108.1 ± 12.0 |
Key outcomes
After three months of group education patient’s lost weight and had improved lipid levels and disease knowledge.
3 year study showed practice nurse care is as effective as ongoing group education.
