Effect of Nurse-led Telephone Follow ups (Tele-Nursing) on Diet Adherence among Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Diabetes education does not assure adherence to diabetic regimen. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nurse-led telephone follow ups (Tele-Nursing) program on adherence to diabetic diet among type 2 diabetic patients.Methods & Materials: This was a quasi experimental study. Sixty patients who were registered at Iranian Diabetes Society were selected using convenience sampling method. Data gathering instruments included a data sheet to record glycosylated hemoglobin and a questionnaire. Data were gathered at baseline and 12 weeks after the intervention. First, all participants attended in a three-day self-care education and dietary consultation program at Iranian Diabetes Society. Then, they were randomly assigned to the experiment and control groups. Telephone follow ups were applied in experiment group for 3 months, twice a week for the first month and then weekly for the second and third months. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13. Results showed that there were significant statistical differences between control and experiment groups in adherence to diabetic diet (P=0.035). There were significant differences in glycosylated hemoglobin between control and experiment groups after the intervention (P<0.000). According to the results of the study, it is concluded that the nurse-led telephone follow ups can improve HbA1c and diet adherence in type 2 diabetic patients.