[Assessing the effect of small group intervention program on knowledge and health literacy among patients with heart failure]

Introduction: Complications due to lack of awareness are one of the most important factors in re-hospitalization of these patients. This study conducted to determine effect of small group intervention program on knowledge and health literacy among patients with heart failure

Method: This randomized clinical trial carried out on 150 patients with heart failure hospitalized at hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. After obtaining informed consent, subjects randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Before the study, demographic, health literacy, and knowledge questionnaires were completed by the participants. The control group received routine care; while, in the intervention group training were conducted in small groups, in addition to the manual about disease and self-care that created by the research team. Finally after 6 months questionnaires were completed by two groups and the data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and inferential statistics

Results: Mean and standard deviation of knowledge and health literacy in the control group were 1.78 +/- 0.87 and 1.77 +/- 0.83 and in the intervention group they were 2.48 +/- 0.68 and 2.53 +/- 0.72, respectively. Covariance analysis also showed significant differences in the level of knowledge and health literacy scores of patients in the intervention group compared to the control group [P=0.01]

Conclusion: Improving knowledge and health literacy using small group education method is recommended in the care plane of patients in the hospitals and rehabilitation centers

[Assessment of knowledge and beliefs' barriers to living with type 2 diabetes and its related factors]

Living with type 2 diabetes is a big challenge. In this regards, concentration on patients' knowledge and beliefs are main components of planning for living with the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and beliefs' barriers to living with type 2 diabetes and its related factors. This was a cross sectional study conducted with 600 patients selected using random sampling. Data gathering tool was consisted of two sections: demographic and health related items, diabetes control index as HbA[1C] [10 items], and the questionnaire of knowledge and beliefs barriers [10 items]. Interviews were performed to collect the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze data. Mean and standard deviation of patients' knowledge and beliefs' barriers was 31.26 and 7.61, respectively. There were significant relationships between patients' knowledge and beliefs' barriers and disease duration, level of education, type of treatment, occupation, age groups, income and HbA1C [P<0.001]. Results of the logistic regression model revealed that odds ratio of knowledge and beliefs' barriers had a significant relationship with disease duration [P=0.001], under diploma education [P<0.001], Insulin therapy [P=0.004], mixed therapy of oral agents and insulin [P=0.02], age more than 65 years old [P=0.001] and poor diabetes control [P<0.001]. The severity of patients' knowledge and beliefs barriers had a significant relationship with elderly age, disease duration, less education, non-oral agents' therapy, and poor diabetes control. Conducting experimental studies on the factors in patients with type 2 diabetes is suggested

assessment of relations between socioeconomic status and number of complications among type 2 diabetic patients

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Iranian aged 25-64 estimated to be about 7.7%. The aim of current study was the assessment of socioeconomic status of diabetic patients and their complications. A cross sectional study was conducted on type 2 diabetic patients with complications in four major teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences [TUMS] during July 2009 to March 2010. All patients [530] were interviewed through a questionnaire with 85% response rate [450 patients]. Skilled nurses were assigned as responsible for data collection. Collected data analyzed by Exact Fisher and x2 tests using SPSS version 11.5. The majority of patients had experienced one or more complications. Findings revealed that 50%, 33.6% and 16.4% of the patients suffered from one, two, and three complications of type 2 diabetes, respectively. Patients with cardiovascular complications included 22.2%, with both cardiovascular and eye complications [12.7%], and with cardiovascular, eye and foot ulcer together 14% of the respondents. Frequency of complications demonstrated significant relation with sex, age, educational level, type of occupation, duration of diabetes [P 0.001] and social class [P=0.002]. The majority of patients [54.2%] belonged to low income group. It seems patients with low socioeconomic status face more challenges in their social environment together with less psychological support. Health care systems are responsible to empower them to control their illness and feel a better life to live