Effects of Face-to-Face and Telephone-Based Family-Oriented Education on Self-Care Behavior and Patient Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background. Education of patients and their families is the cornerstone of effective diabetes care. The present study aimed to
compare the effects of a face-to-face and telephone-based family-oriented educational program on self-care behavior and
patient outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients. Methods. In the present randomized controlled trial, 90 type 2 diabetes
patients were randomly divided into three groups of 30 participants: a face-to-face education group, a telephone-based
education group, and a control group. The educational program lasted for 3 months. Outcomes evaluated included self-care,
fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, cholesterol, and triglyceride. Results. The overall self-care scores in the intervention
groups were significantly higher than that in the control group (P = 0 0001). In addition, lipid profiles significantly
improved in the interventions compared to the control (P < 0 05). Comparing the two interventions showed better results
for the face-to-face group regarding dietary adherence and physical activity, but the latter group had comparable results in
blood glucose monitoring, foot care, and cholesterol level. Conclusions. This study shows the beneficiary effects of a family
oriented education on self-care and patient outcomes. It also shows the potential value of low-cost telephone technology in
delivering effective diabetes care.