Mobile Phone-based Video Education on Diabetes

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This study is a randomized controlled trial.

Participants:

The population of the study consisted of individuals with type 2 diabetes who presented to hospital diabetes outpatient clinic between July 2018 and January 2019, and the study sample, on the other hand, included a total of 100 individuals with type 2 diabetes who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. The study was completed with a total of 93 subjects, including 46 in the intervention group (n = 46) and 47 in the control group (n= 47). A Diagnosis and Follow-up Form for Individuals with Diabetes (socio-demographic characteristics, diabetes-related characteristics, metabolic values), which was prepared by the researcher in line with the literature, and the Turkish Multidimensional Diabetes Questionnaire (T-MDDQ) were used to collect the data.

Preparation and content of the education material:

The education material was based on four different guidelines, namely, educator's guidelines for adults with diabetes; the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up guidelines for diabetes mellitus and its complications; diabetes diagnosis and treatment guidelines; and international education guidelines for diabetes health professionals. The diabetes education videos prepared and presented by the researcher in line with these resources were sent to the participants' smartphones in parts. The educational content consisted of 8 sections: what is diabetes? (basic concepts, symptoms, diagnostic criteria, importance), medical nutrition therapy in diabetes, exercise therapy in diabetes, medical treatment in diabetes, acute complications of diabetes, chronic complications of diabetes, foot problems in diabetes, life with diabetes, and diabetes management under special cases.

Data collection process:

The intervention group: In the first meeting, the individuals in the intervention group were informed about the video-based diabetes education and how they would get the videos, and data collection forms were administered. The blood analysis results (HbA1c, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglyceride) taken on the same day during outpatient clinic follow-ups were recorded. After the administration of the forms, blood pressure, height, and weight measurements were made, and the first interview was completed. Following the first interview, diabetes education videos created previously were sent to the mobile phones of the individuals in two episodes a week fashion. Video submission was completed in a total of four weeks. In the second interview, three months after the video submission had been completed, data collection forms were re-administered to the individuals, and blood analysis results were recorded. The interview was completed after measuring their blood pressure and weight. During the period between the first and second interviews, the individuals continued to receive routine outpatient follow-ups.

The control group: In the first interview, the individuals with diabetes in the control group were given information about the study, and then data collection forms were administered. The blood analysis results (HbA1c, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglyceride) taken on the same day during outpatient clinic follow-ups were recorded. The first interview was completed after blood pressure, height, and weight measurements were made. Later, individuals continued to receive routine outpatient follow-ups without any other procedures. In the second interview held three months later, data collection forms were re-administered, and blood analysis results, blood pressure, and weight measurements were recorded. At the end of the second interview, diabetes education videos were sent to the individuals in the control group, too, and they were provided with the same education.

Data analysis:

The statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 25.0 (IBM Corp. Armonk, NY) was used to analyze the data. P<.05 was accepted statistically significant. In descriptive statistics, mean, ± standard deviation, median, minimum and maximum values, and percentages were used, and in nonparametric tests, Mann-Whitney U, Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's exact test, McNemar's test, Wilcoxon signed ranks test, and Spearman's rho measurements were employed.