Can we improve the education for type 2 diabetes patients in general practice?. A pilot study of the effects of differing educational delivery methods

Education is widely regarded as fundamental to good diabetes care yet, in the UK, it is often low in the practical priorities of clinicians running a busy clinic. In addition, many clinicians are not trained in the production or delivery of educational packages for adults. In this pilot project we employed a person trained in adult education to develop a structured educational programme on foot care, management and natural history of diabetes. The programme ran concurrently using three different methods in three practices. The education was provided in one practice by the clinicians, in the second by video and the clinicians and in the third by the adult educator and clinicians. Patient knowledge, HbA_1c, weight and smoking status were assessed before and after the programme. There were baseline differences in the practices with patients in the video practice scoring higher for knowledge. Post‐programme assessment showed that there had been improvement in knowledge levels in the practice with the in situ adult educator and an increase in incorrect answers in the traditional practice. There had been no change in HbA_1c, weight or comfort with diabetes but 41.2% of smokers stated they had ceased over the period of the study.