Date of this Version

12-12-2023

Document Type

DNP Project

Abstract

Introduction: Type II Diabetes (T2DM) is a prevalent and burdening disease worldwide. It is a disproportionately expensive condition, and individuals who are diagnosed and do not reach or maintain control experience a poorer quality of life (QOL) due to the debilitating complications associated with T2DM (Mustapa et al., 2022). Patient education and empowerment are necessary as adjunct treatment modalities for patients diagnosed with T2DM. This study examined the effectiveness of evidence-based education and empowerment interventions in improving health outcomes in Type II Diabetic patients.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed at a Primary Care Clinic in Boca Raton, with 20 Type II Diabetic patients participating voluntarily in educational and empowerment sessions. The Institutional Review Board approved the study. Pre-intervention assessments included a questionnaire measuring baseline knowledge and attitude. The educational and empowerment interventions focused on increasing knowledge of Diabetes and complications and gauging attitudes towards empowerment in disease management. Post-intervention, the same questionnaire was distributed to measure change in knowledge levels and attitudes.

Results: The pre and posttest survey analysis displayed a significant improvement in knowledge and attitude among participants. Specifically, participants exhibited a notable increase in knowledge of Diabetes, associated complications, and lifestyle factors contributing to disease development. Furthermore, participants reported a positive shift in attitude, with increased confidence in managing their condition. The results showed significant improvement in general diabetes knowledge and complications and displayed a positive attitude toward disease understanding and empowerment.

Conclusion: The findings from this study underscored the effectiveness of educational and empowerment-based interventions in increasing knowledge and fostering empowerment among a small cohort of Type II Diabetic patients. Using a pre and posttest questionnaire design provides valuable qualitative insights into the impact of the interventions and further supports its positive influence on Type II Diabetic patients and their use as adjuncts to medication-related treatment plans. While these results are encouraging, future research with larger samples and long-term follow-up is warranted to validate the findings and explore the sustainability of knowledge and attitude improvements over time. Future studies examining the role of patient empowerment and education in Type II Diabetes management could further improve quality of life (QOL) in patients.

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