Assessing the effectiveness of a goal-setting session as part of a structured group self-management education programme for people with type 2 diabetes

•Goal-setting as part of a DMSE helps people identify behaviour change goals.•Goal-setting as part of a DSME can lead to behaviour change.•Being married/living with a partner was significantly associated with attainment of action plans.•Making HCPs aware of people’s action plans could further support behaviour change. To measure the number of people who have identified a behaviour change goal and completed an action-plan to meet their goal on completion of a diabetes self-management education programme (DSME) and level of success in sustaining their action-plan. The DSME people attended was Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed (DESMOND). Copies of action-plans were collected from participants. Postal questionnaires were sent to participants one week and three months following DESMOND to assess factors associated with setting and sustaining action-plans. 92% (253/275) of participants completed an action-plan. Reducing weight was the area most targeted. Physical activity was the most common goal. 68% (187/275) returned a three month questionnaire. 96% indicated they were still working on their action plan, with 87% reporting they were always/usually meeting their action-plan. 22% said they had discussed their goal with a health care professional (HCP) following DESMOND. Goal-setting as part of a DSME can lead to behaviour change. Goal-setting as part of a DSME enables participants to set and attain behaviour change goals. Informing HCPs of a person's action-plan following a DSME may further support a person undertaking behaviour change.