Effect of a Health Literacy –Considered Diabetes Self-Management Program for Older Adults in South Korea

<p>The current randomized controlled study evaluated the effects of a health literacy –considered diabetes self-management program on diabetes-related parameters: diabetes self-management knowledge (DSK), diabetes health beliefs (DHB), diabetes self-efficacy (DSE), diabetes self-management behavior (DSMB), and diabetes biomarkers. Fifty-one Korean older adults with diabetes complet ed 12 weekly sessions that were developed based on their health literacy and health-related characteristics. The results indicate significant posttest differences between groups in DSK (<i>p</i> = 0.046), DSE (<i>p</i> = 0.046), DSMB (<i>p</i> = 0.012), and the DSMB self-monitored blood glucose subscale (<i>p</i> = 0.002). Significant pre –post changes between groups were observed in the DHB benefit subscale (<i>p</i> = 0.043), DSE (<i>p</i> = 0.006), DSMB (<i>p</i> = 0.008), DSMB diet (<i>p</i> = 0.029), and the self-monitored blood glucose subscale (<i>p</i>< 0.001). A significant pre –post difference was observed in the intervention group's HbA1c levels (<i>p</i> = 0.008). The program effectively improved participants' DSK, DHB, DSE, and DSMB values, which may be helpful for improving HbA1c levels.</p><p><b>[Res Gerontol Nurs. 2017; 10(5):215 –225.]</b></p>
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research