Prevention of Postpartum Weight Retention during One Year after Childbirth by Prenatal Nutrition Education: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Is Web-Based Program Effective on Self-Care Behaviors and Glycated Hemoglobin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) as a framework focuses on seven self-care behaviors. Moreover, technology-assisted self-care education is increasingly suggested for patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, we examined the effect of a web-based program on self-care behaviors and glycated hemoglobin values in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Materials and Methods

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at Alzahra Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, between April and November 2020 and included 70 patients with T2DM. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included a demographic information section and a diabetes self-management section with 21 questions on a Likert scale. Fasting blood samples (2.50 ml) were collected before and after the interventions to measure HbA1c levels. The study intervention involved a web-based program that included multimedia educational content (such as videos, lectures, educational motion graphics, text files, posters, and podcasts) presented in seven sections based on DSMES over a 21-day period with monitoring by an instructor.

Results

The mean scores for healthy eating (F = 3.48, p = 0.034) and medication adherence (F = 6.70, p < 0.001) significantly increased in the interventional group, while the mean scores for being active, monitoring, reducing risks, problem-solving, and healthy coping did not significantly change. Additionally, the mean differences in HbA1c values significantly improved in the interventional group compared to the control (F = 5,1, p = 0.026).

Conclusions

A web-based program in accordance with DSMES improved HbA1c levels and increased scores for healthy eating and medication adherence in patients with T2DM. However, further research with larger sample sizes and qualitative interviews is needed.

Effectiveness of a web-based program on self-care behaviors and glycated hemoglobin in patients with type 2 diabetes: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) decreases the life expectancy and quality of life of diabetics and causes economic and societal problems. For this purpose, diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) has been designed for many years, which is recently provided through technology-assisted education. Therefore, we developed a web-based program in accordance with DSMES to assess its effect on self-care behaviors and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) for patients with T2DM during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which is described in detail in this paper.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed on 70 diabetic patients in Al-Zahra Hospital for three months. After random allocation, web-based educational content (including videos, lectures, educational motion graphics, text files, educational posters, and podcasts) according to DSMES was provided for the intervention group to improve self-care behaviors and HbA1c levels. The control group received routine educational pamphlets. A diabetes self-management questionnaire (21 questions) with a Likert scale was completed to assess self-care behaviors scores before and after intervention and three months later. Also, HbA1c was determined before and after the intervention. Analysis of variance with repeated measurements will be applied to compare mean scores of self-care behaviors components three times, and an independent t-test analyzed mean differences of HbA1c values.

CONCLUSION

The obtained results of this study might be useful for promoting self-care behaviors and assessing HbA1c in diabetic patients.