Effectiveness of Self-Help Group Program for the Management of Type-2 Diabetes Patients in Rural Thailand
Authors
- Kantapong Prabsangob College of Allied Health Science, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
- Ratana Somrongthong College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand
-
Ramesh Kumar
Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Fozia Anwar Department of Health Informatics, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2019.141.145Keywords:
Blood sugar control, diabetes mellitus, health literacy, intervention, patient management, self-care behaviorsAbstract
Background and Objective: A Self-Help Group (SHG) program was designed based on the concept of social cognitive theory. This program applied an action research approach for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in community based-care. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an SHG program on health literacy, self-care behaviors and blood sugar levels in T2DM patients in a rural Thai community. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study design was used through validated and reliable questionnaires. Seventy T2DM patients between 50 and 80 years living in a rural Thai community were included in this study. Patients were assigned to the intervention or control group (n = 35 each) to test the effectiveness of an SHG program across three months. Descriptive statistics and independent paired t-test was used to compare baseline and intervention effects. The study was approved by Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Results: Health literacy, self-care behaviors and HbA1c levels were similar across both groups at baseline. Following three months of intervention, health literacy, self-care behaviors and HbA1c levels were significantly improved in the intervention group compared to the control groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: This SHG program is effective and may help T2DM patients improve their health literacy and self-care behaviors to control their blood sugar levels.
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