Structured patient education: the Diabetes X-PERT Programme makes a difference

Aims To develop a patient‐centred, group‐based self‐management programme (X‐PERT), based on theories of empowerment and discovery learning, and to assess the effectiveness of the programme on clinical, lifestyle and psychosocial outcomes. Methods Adults with Type 2 diabetes (n = 314), living in Burnley, Pendle or Rossendale, Lancashire, UK were randomized to either individual appointments (control group) (n = 157) or the X‐PERT Programme (n = 157). X‐PERT patients were invited to attend six 2‐h group sessions of self‐management education. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 4 and 14 months. Results One hundred and forty‐nine participants (95%) attended the X‐PERT Programme, with 128 (82%) attending four or more sessions. By 14 months the X‐PERT group compared with the control group showed significant improvements in the mean HbA1c (− 0.6% vs. + 0.1%, repeated measures anova, P