Assessment of knowledge and skills of barangay health workers: Basis for diabetes education program for lay persons

@#This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge and skills of the barangay health workers (BHW) about diabetes management. A descriptive correlational design that included 121 BHWs in Bustos, Bulacan was utilized in the study. A test and skill demonstration checklist was utilized to determine the knowledge and skills of BHWs about diabetes management. Categorical variables such as the respondents' profile were described using frequencies and percentages. Continuous variables such as level of knowledge and skills were summarized using central tendency measures (mean) with standard deviation. Pearson correlation test for association was used to test for relationship between level of knowledge and skills. Pearson Chi square was used to test association between demographic variables and level of knowledge and skills. Ap value of <0.05 was considered significant in the analysis of the results. Results showed that the overall level of knowledge of the BHWs was satisfactory but varied in many aspects of diabetes management. The BHWs level of knowledge in determining signs and symptoms and diagnosis of diabetes was high but low in determining types of diabetes mellitus. The level of skills of the BHWs was high in blood pressure measurement but low in blood glucose monitoring. BHWs have varied knowledge and skills in diabetes care management. There is a need to train the BHWs further to develop their knowledge and skills. The nurse diabetes educators must provide diabetes education program for BHWs that are focused on competencies to deliver safe and appropriate health teaching activities utilizing the basic concepts and principles of diabetes management

Diabetes self-management education program (DSME) among adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">The DSME program is aimed to educate adolescents about diabetes mellitus: disease process, survival skills, exercise management, drug management, diet management, prevent acute and chronic complications and optimize quality of life. This study utilized the quasi experimental pre and post-test design involving 15 adolescent patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. The DSME materials were composed of five modules that included topics in diabetes awareness, survival skills, exercise, drug and diet management. Knowledge, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Random Blood Sugar (RBS) and waist and hip ratio (WHR) were tested. The Intervention phase was implemented in three months where each module was completed by patients in two weeks. Pre and post-test examinations were done after each module. Participants have very satisfactory knowledge in diabetes awareness, survival skills, exercise, drug management before and after the DSME program. However, participants knowledge in diet management were unsatisfactory before and after the DSME program. FBS were high but RBS levels and WHR were in normal levels before, during and after the DSME program. Knowledge scores were significantly different before and after the implementation of all the modules (Module 1 to Module 5) to the participants. RBS results were significantly different after the implementation of the Module 1- DM awareness and Module 5- diet management. However, no significant differences were obtained in the RBS results of the participants after the implementation of Module 2, 3, 4, and 5. No significant differences were also obtained in the WHR parameters of the participants in each of the implementation of DSME. No significant differences in the FBS results were obtained after the implementation of the DSME modules. The module type DSME is effective in increasing knowledge of the adolescent patients in diabetes and its management. The content of the diet management module needs to be strengthened and be tested again for its effectiveness in increasing knowledge of adolescent patients.</p>

Assessment of health care needs of older persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The global prevalence of diabetes by 2030 estimated an increase in number of people with diabetes. People who are 64 years of age will be 82 million in developing countries and 48 million in developed countries. The study aimed to assess the health care needs of older persons' physical, cognitive, functional and self-care abilities and determine relationship of these to their profiles. These assessments are the bases in designing modules for Diabetes Self-Management Education training module for Diabetes Educators. A descriptive correlational design was utilized to assess the health care needs of 100 young older persons. The Filipino Activities of Daily Living (Fil-ADL) and the Filipino Instrumental Activities of Daily living were utilized to assess the functional status of the older persons. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA-P) and cognitive function exams were used to assess cognitive status while Mini- Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used to assess nutritional status of the older persons. The Self-Care Inventory Revised (Sci-R) was used to assess self-care behaviors of older persons to diabetes management. Frequency and percentage were used to describe the health care needs of older persons, while mean and standard deviation were used in assessing knowledge and self-care abilities. Chisquare test for Association was utilized to determine relationship of the health care needs and the profile of the respondents. Study shows that most of the older persons are female, 66-70 years old, married and had primary education. The older persons' knowledge in diabetes is satisfactory, had a normal nutritional status, was functional in daily living activities (ADL), was functional in their instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), was normal of their cognitive status, and sometimes perform self-care abilities to diabetes management. There is significant relationship between knowledge, civil status and history of diabetes. Nutrition and cognitive status had significant relationship to their civil status, education and history of diabetes. The functional status of the older persons has significant relationship with history of diabetes. It is necessary to include the culture-based health care needs of older persons and to consider demography such as education and history of diabetes in designing the training module for diabetes educators.