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Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Client perceptions of group education in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in South Australia

Cynthia Smith A B C , Darlene A. McNaughton A and Samantha Meyer A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Discipline of Public Health, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.

B Present address: Camosun College, 3100 Foul Bay Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5J2, Canada.

C Corresponding author. Email: cynthias@ualberta.ca

Australian Journal of Primary Health 22(4) 360-367 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY15008
Submitted: 10 July 2013  Accepted: 1 May 2015   Published: 9 September 2015

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive chronic disease that requires significant self-surveillance and adherence to the treatment protocols for successful management and future health. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that diabetes education is beneficial for patient outcomes. However, there is some debate about how best to deliver diabetes education, whether individually or in groups. Although several studies have investigated the role of group education in improving the management of T2DM, few studies have examined this issue from the client’s perspective. It is here that this study makes a contribution to understanding diabetes management. Drawing on systematic observation of group education sessions provided by diabetic resource nurses and in-depth interviews with clients, this paper describes the experiences, perspectives and significance of these sessions to clients. Our results suggest that group education sessions were seen as valuable to the clients for: the opportunity they provided to meet others living with diabetes; to improve motivation for managing the disease; and to enhance knowledge of diabetes, its management and long-term implications. In short, this study demonstrates that the clients value group education sessions for the social contact, increasing knowledge about the disease for self-management and support they provide; factors recognised as important to maintaining health. In addition, group education sessions appear to be a cost-effective method for diabetes self-management that funders need to consider.


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