The effect of diabetes self-management education with frequent follow-up on the health outcomes of African American men.

PURPOSE

This study was conducted to determine whether objective clinical, patient performance, quality-of-life, and subjective outcomes are significantly different among African American men with type 2 diabetes who received follow-up at either monthly or 3-month intervals after participating in a structured diabetes self-management education program.

METHODS

Prior to the diabetes self-management education program, 30 African American men with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to 2 groups to receive telephone follow-up at either monthly or 3-month intervals over a 6-month period. Information obtained at follow-up contact included HbA1c level, perception of general health, and present diabetes knowledge. In addition, daily foot care, dietary, exercise, and medication compliance measures were assessed postprogram.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the participants who received follow-up at monthly and 3-month intervals on any measures of the selected clinical, patient performance, quality-of-life, and subjective outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

This cross-sectional study showed that telephone follow-up at 3-month intervals following a structured program of diabetes self-management education may be just as effective in contributing to favorable diabetes health outcomes as monthly follow-up.