Impact of educational intervention based on interactive approaches on beliefs, behavior, hemoglobin a1c, and quality of life in diabetic women

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a public health challenge worldwide and to manage it the
patient is required to make some fundamental changes in behavior. Patients should be involved
in care program to improve their diabetes condition and quality of life (QOL). This study aimed
to examine the effect of educational program on beliefs, behavior, glycemic control indicator,
and QOL among diabetic women.
Methods: In this interventional study, 90 female outpatients with type 2 diabetes were randomly
selected from those referred to diabetes clinic in Khoy, Iran, during 2011. They were divided
into two groups, 45 participants as the intervention group and 45 subjects as the comparison
group. Knowledge, beliefs, and behavior by valid and reliable questionnaires, and health‑related
QOL (HRQOL) by means of WHOQOL‑BREF questionnaire were assessed. Hemoglobin A1c
level (HbA1c) was measured by the colorimetric method, educational program was conducted on the
intervention group for 4 weeks, and changes were compared in two groups after a 3‑month follow‑up.
Results: After intervention, there was a significant difference between two groups in terms of
the mean scores of knowledge (P < 0.001), attitude (P < 0.01), self‑efficacy (P < 0.001), and
behavior (P < 0.001). The findings also indicated that there were significant differences between
the groups in mean scores of physical, psychological, and social domains of QOL after intervention
(P < 0.001). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between two groups in the
mean value of HbA1c after educational intervention (P < 0.01).
Conclusions: Instructional interventions based on interactive approaches can be useful, and
applicable for behavior modification and improvement of HbA1c level and HRQOL in people
with DM