Effectiveness of self-management health promotion education package among diabetic patients in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal

ABSTRACT Diabetes is on an increasing trend, and it is one of the four priority non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and major public health problems. Studies indicate that educational programs are effective in the management of diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a diabetes self-management education program among diabetic patients in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal. The study design was a pre-test and post-test interventional study among 60 diabetic patients. Questionnaires were used to collect information about demographic variables and Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs. Data were collected before the educational intervention program and after the educational intervention program. Paired t-test was performed to assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention. This study showed the effectiveness of the self-management health promotion educational package. The results showed a significant increase in each construct of HBM and self-management practice after the educational intervention (p < 0.0001). The mean value of perceived susceptibility was increased from 2.94 to 3.49; perceived severity was increased from 2.83 to 3.08; the perceived benefit was increased from 3.09 to 3.55; the perceived barrier was decreased from 2.44 to 2.00, self-efficacy was increased from 3.06 to 3.48 and self-management practice was increased from 3.02 to 3.46. The intervention was effective to the diabetes patients; there was an increase in perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefit, self-efficacy, and self-management practice except for the perceived barrier. Educational programs should be focusing on the behavioral theory that plays a significant role in the self-efficacy and control of diabetes.