Comparing the Effect of Patient-Centered and Family-Centered Education on Quality of life and HBA1C Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Low quality of life and complications of high blood sugar are among the problems of patients with diabetes. This study aimed to compare the effect of patient-centered education and family-centered education on quality of life and HBA1C in patients with type 2 diabetes.

A clinical trial was performed in diabetic patients in Rafsanjan Diabetes Clinic. The sample size was 120, who were randomly assigned into three groups: patient-centered intervention, family-centered intervention, and control. Participants in family-centered intervention and patient-centered intervention groups attended 1-hour training program in 12 sessions and the control group received routine care. In the family-centered intervention group, in addition to the patient, a family member attended the training sessions. Data were collected using SF-36 quality of life questionnaire and measuring HBA1C before the intervention and after 12 weeks.

Before the intervention, no significant difference was found between the three groups in quality-of-life score and HBA1C (P>0.05). But after the intervention, the quality-of-life was seen to be significantly different between the three groups (P=0.001(. The mean HBA1C level was not significantly different between the three groups after the intervention (P=0.187).

Educational programs in patients with type 2 diabetes and their families can improve their quality of life and are recommended to be implemented by health care professionals.