"EFFECTS OF A HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM ON BEHAVIOR, HBA1C AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN DIABETIC PATIENTS"

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease of lifelong duration and its management requires a fundamental change in patient’s lifestyle. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an interactive health education program on knowledge, behavior, HbA1c and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of diabetic patients. Eighty patients were randomly selected and assigned to two groups, 40 to the intervention and 40 to the control group. All participants were followed for 4 months. At the initial visit and 4 months after education, knowledge was assessed by questionnaire, behavior assessed using an interview schedule, HbA1c measured by colorimetric method and health-related quality of life assessed by means of WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The intervention group showed statistically significant increase in mean of knowledge, behavior, physical and psychological health and also had a statistically significant reduction in mean of HbA1c. Control group had significant increase only in knowledge. It seems that this interactive approach is useful, worthwhile and applicable for behavior modification and improvement in HbA1c and health-related quality of life of diabetic patients.