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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

Group-based education for patients with type 2 diabetes: a survey of Australian dietitians

Kate Odgers-Jewell A C , Elisabeth A. Isenring A , Rae Thomas A B and Dianne P. Reidlinger A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Bond University, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, 14 University Drive, Gold Coast, Qld 4229, Australia.

B Bond University, Centre for Research in Evidence-Based Practice (CREBP), 14 University Drive, Robina, Gold Coast, Qld 4229, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Present address: Bond Institute of Health and Sport, 2 Promethean Way, Robina, Qld 4226, Australia. Email: kodgersj@bond.edu.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 23(4) 364-372 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY16156
Submitted: 25 November 2016  Accepted: 28 February 2017   Published: 1 June 2017

Abstract

Group-based education has the potential to substantially improve the outcomes of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and reduce the enormous burden that chronic diseases place on healthcare systems worldwide. Despite this proven effectiveness, the utilisation of group services for the management of T2DM by Australian dietitians is surprisingly low. This study surveyed a sample of 263 Australian dietitians to explore the utilisation of group-based education for T2DM, as well as dietitians’ preferences for practice and training. The results of this study indicate that Australian dietitians are currently under-utilising group-based education programs for the management of T2DM, with the primary reasons identified as a lack of training provided to dietitians in the area, limited access to facilities suitable for conducting group education, the perceived poor cost-effectiveness of these programs, and the lack of evidence-based practice guidelines for the group-based management of persons with T2DM. Additionally, the majority of preferences for further training were for either face-to-face or web-based formal training conducted over 3–6 h. Clear, evidence-based practice guidelines and training resources for group education for the management of T2DM are needed in order to encourage better utilisation of group-based education by Australian dietitians.


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