The Efficacy of Group-based Education Using Diabetes Dialogue Card in a Primary Care Clinic

Background: Compared to tertiary care hospitals, there are relatively few educational resources in primary care clinics. Effectively educating patients with type 2 diatetes mellitus (T2D) in primary care clinics is a challenge and is a field that warrants further research. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of implementing group-based education in a primary care clinic and to evaluate its efficacy compared with that of routine usual care. Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial. The study participants (n=69) were randomly divided into two groups: group 1, education group which used the Diabetes Dialogue Card (DDC^(TM)), and group 2, the routine usual care group (UC). The glycemic and lifestyle behavioral outcomes were evaluated from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: Both groups had a significant reduction of HbA1c level from baseline to 12 months, with a greater reduction in intervention group as compared with the UC group: 8.51 ± 0.95% to 7.69 ± 1.01% in DDC^(TM) vs. 8.56 ± 0.96% to 8.28 ± 1.14% in UC group, respectively (p＜0.05). In addition, general well-being, diabetes distress, physical activity, and the quality of food intake generally improved in the intervention group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that group-based education can be implemented in a primary care setting and that it can improve glycemic control as well as lifestyle variables in patients with T2D. This supports the notion that an interactive and empowerment strategy can be used as the basis of a group-based education program delivered by a primary care nurse.