Core competencies for diabetes educators: A scoping review

WhatsApp-based intervention for people with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by prolonged elevated blood glucose levels. Diabetes self-management education and support programs are widely used in western countries. The impact of social media education and support interventions such as a WhatsApp-based program and the nurses' role in supporting and implementing this self-management program unclear. Using a WhatsApp-based program, we evaluated the effects of a 6-week program in improving self-efficacy and education among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia. Eligible participants (n = 80) were recruited with the support of nurses into a randomized controlled trial and randomly assigned into self-management intervention and control groups. The intervention group (n = 40) received the self-management program support and the usual care. The control group (n = 40) received only the usual care with nurses' support. Results from generalized estimating equation analysis showed a significant increase in self-efficacy, self-management, and education in the WhatsApp-based intervention support group compared with the control group at 6 and 12 weeks (follow-up). Implementing the program via social media improves self-efficacy. The use of social media platforms should be promoted for global diabetes management.

Diabetes education self-management intervention in improving self-efficacy for people with type 2 diabetes in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: A systematic review

AIMS

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of diabetes education self-management intervention for improving self-efficacy for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

METHODS

The Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology was applied to conduct a systematic review of type 2 diabetes interventions published from 2012 to 2022. This involved searching major databases, including Ovid, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The focus was on studies involving adults aged 18 or older with a Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) diagnosis, randomized controlled trials, and full-text English-language articles, while excluding materials such as editorials and conference abstracts.

RESULTS

A total of 689 relevant articles initially retrieved; ultimately, only five studies met the inclusion criteria of this review. All five included studies were randomised control trials, and all five studies indicated that there was a significant and positive impact of diabetes education self-management intervention on diet and physical activities. Furthermore, three of the included studies indicated that interventions led to a substantial reduction in the levels of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) among people with type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes education is an effective way of improving the health outcomes of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes education self-management interventions significantly increase the self-efficacy of people with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) by enabling them to effectively control their blood glucose levels. Therefore, this study recommended that the GCC countries need to implement education intervention programmes to help and support people with Type 2 Diabetes.

Nursing internship students' knowledge regarding the care and management of people with diabetes: A multicenter cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Nursing students in their final year of study will soon become responsible for the care and management of people with diabetes, and they need to be knowledgeable to provide adequate information.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess nursing students' knowledge regarding diabetes care and management.

DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional multicenter study.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

A convenience sample of all nursing students' internship enrolled at three government universities in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

306 Saudi nursing students were surveyed with a self-administered questionnaire of the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. The second part contained 23 multiple-choice questions of the Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test. Data were collected from July to September 2022.

RESULTS

The overall percentage of correct responses was 49.28 %. There was a significant difference between sex, the university attended, attendance in courses related to diabetes, and diabetes management guidelines in any course and their knowledge about diabetes care and management (p = 0.024, 0.001, 0.036, and 0.038, respectively). There was a significant difference between nursing students' general knowledge and insulin use knowledge (p = 0.001). A multiple regression analysis revealed that the university attended was the only statistically significant factor (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Nursing internship students are likely to be responsible for providing people with diabetes care and management once they qualify. Inappropriate knowledge negatively affects the care and management of people with diabetes. Information related to diabetic insulin therapy should be provided in more detail in the nursing curriculum.

Exploring Diabetes Educators' Core Competencies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Diabetes education provided by qualified and competent diabetes educators (DEs) is effective in reducing risks of diabetes complications. Globally, the DE workforce comprises a mixture of professions, with the majority being nurses. It is necessary to regularly assess DEs' competence and knowledge to ensure that quality diabetes education is being delivered.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the self-perceived competence and the diabetes knowledge of DEs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

METHODS

This study explored the self-perceived competence and the diabetes knowledge of DEs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey, administered at 20 diabetes centres. A total of 368 DEs were invited to participate in the study.

RESULTS

Surveys were completed by 324 DEs (response rate = 88%), 84% (n=271) were nurses. From a possible overall range between 63-252, the mean (M) was 168.59 and standard deviation (SD) was (35.6) hence perceived competence of the DEs was low, Of a maximum possible score of 45 for the diabetes knowledge test, response scores ranged from 9 to 40, with M = 26.2 (6.0). Perceived competence and diabetes knowledge varied depending on age, nationality, educational qualification, primary profession, and whether or not the DE held a specialised diabetes qualification.

CONCLUSION

DEs in the KSA need to develop and enhance their competence and knowledge in order to provide quality diabetes care and education. The low perceived competence and scores in the knowledge test show that intervention measures are needed to regularly assess and improve the core competencies of DEs. Further research is required to identify DEs' barriers to having sufficient competencies and knowledge.