Effectiveness of Self-Help Group Program for the Management of Type-2 Diabetes Patients in Rural Thailand

Abstract

Background and Objective: A Self-Help Group (SHG) program was designed based on the concept of social cognitive theory. This program applied an action research approach for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in community based-care. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an SHG program on health literacy, self-care behaviors and blood sugar levels in T2DM patients in a rural Thai community. Material(s) and Method(s): A quasi-experimental study design was used through validated and reliable questionnaires. Seventy T2DM patients between 50 and 80 years living in a rural Thai community were included in this study. Patients were assigned to the intervention or control group (n = 35 each) to test the effectiveness of an SHG program across three months. Descriptive statistics and independent paired t-test was used to compare baseline and intervention effects. The study was approved by Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Result(s): Health literacy, self-care behaviors and HbA1c levels were similar across both groups at baseline. Following three months of intervention, health literacy, self-care behaviors and HbA1c levels were significantly improved in the intervention group compared to the control groups (p<0.05). Conclusion(s): This SHG program is effective and may help T2DM patients improve their health literacy and self-care behaviors to control their blood sugar levels.Copyright © 2019 Kantapong Prabsangob et al.