Effect of Diabetes Education on Type 2 Diabetic Patients' Disease Knowledge at Suez Canal University Hospitals

Background: With the alarming soaring statistics of diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetic patients in a real need to control associated morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of diabetes education on type 2 diabetic patients' disease knowledge at Suez Canal University Hospitals. Subjects and Methods: Aquasi-experimental design made up of a control group and a study group with pre- and post-test judgment was applied. The study included 92 type 2 diabetic patients. The socio-economic scale and the diabetes knowledge questionnaire were used for data collection in the two groups. Then the educational program was used in the intervention group. The diabetes knowledge questionnaire was administered in two groups at baseline and after sessions completion. Results: revealed that differences regarding socio-demographic characteristics were statistically insignificant, except for age and educational level for the studied sample groups. Also indicated rare statistical significant difference regarding family history of diabetes and diabetes related complications for the studied sample groups. There were negative statistical significance associations in the following cases for the study group; age, occupational status, whereas for the control group, they were positive statistical significance associations in the following cases; educational level & socio-economic level. there was only positive statistical significance association between the total score of knowledge and treatment regimen of the control-group. Conclusion: Those patients who received educational program achieved better total score of knowledge & knowledge related practice about DM, compared with the control group, therefore it is proposed to conduct specialized educational program workshops about importance of diet & exercises, blood glucose monitoring, adherence to medications and diabetic foot care to decrease the incidence of complications.