Authors

1Mercedes Martínez Marcos, 2Beatriz Coco González, 3Pilar Fraile Galindo, 4Amparo Casado Lollano, 5Julia Domínguez Bidagor, 6Alicia Ramos Martín

Position

¹Diplomada en Enfermería. Licenciada en Sociología.²Diplomada en Enfermería. Centro de Salud Puerta Bonita II.³Diplomada en Enfermería.⁴Diplomada en Enfermería. Centro de Salud Párroco Julio Morate, Madrid.⁵Dirección General de Atención Primaria. Gerencia de Atención Primaria, Área 11, Madrid.⁶Médico de Familia. Becaria Red IAPP. Área 11. Atención Primaria. SERMAS. Médico de Familia. Becaria Red IAPP. Área 11. Atención Primaria. SERMAS.

Contact address

EUE Puerta de Hierro. C/ San Martín de Porres, 4. 28035 Madrid

Contact email: mmartinez.hpth@salud.madrid.org

Abstract

Objectives: the primary objective was to determine efficacy of an intervention on Health Education offered to diabetic patients. The secondary objective was to determine which techniques the patients used most frequently to deal with their condition.
Material and methods: experimental, open randomised study of two groups on a population of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a primary care setting in Madrid. Dependent variables were: specifically related to self-care, Body Mass Index (BMI); glycosilated haemoglobin (HbA1c); the ways in which patients coped with their condition (Lazarus y Folkman) and their level of anxiety (STAI). All dependent variables were measured at the start of the study (month 0) and at the end of the study (month 12).
Results: 78 subjects were recruited for “traditional health education intervention” (group B) and 69 for “practical intervention on coping abilities” (group A). As regards the intergroup change that took place in the self-care variables, these variables improved significantly after the intervention in both groups, except for “Compliance with treatment, smoking, and social/familial support”. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups. The most frequently used coping ability at the beginning and at the end of the study was the search for social support, in both groups. HbA1c values and level of anxiety went down significantly at intergroup level, not between both groups at the end of the study.
Conclusions: the “practical intervention on coping abilities” is an effective tool for improving self-care in diabetic subjects. Inclusion of coping abilities such as planning and problem resolution, self-control and search for social support in educational interventions could greatly improve self-care.

Keywords:

diabetes; health education; self-care; copingabilities

Versión en Español

Título:

Eficacia de un taller de habilidades de afrontamiento en pacientes diabéticos