The effectiveness of multimedia education for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aims. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of two types of health education on improving knowledge concerning diabetes and insulin injection, insulin injection skills and self-efficacy, satisfaction with health education and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and creatinine levels among patients with type 2 diabetes who began insulin therapy using a pen injector. Background. Insulin therapy is recommended to facilitate the regulation of plasma glucose; however, patient’s acceptance of insulin therapy is generally low. Healthcare providers should help them improve their knowledge of diabetes and insulin injection, as well as their insulin injection skills. Design. A randomized repeated measures experimental study design. Methods. The experimental (n = 21) and control (n = 21) groups received multimedia and regular health education programmes, respectively from October 2013–August 2014. Four structured questionnaires were used and videotapes were applied to demonstrate injection skills. Results. Generalized estimating equations showed that the experimental group’s scores were significantly higher than those of the control group for diabetes and insulin injection knowledge, insulin injection skills, self-efficacy in insulin injection and satisfaction with health education. On the other hand, an analysis of covariance revealed glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and creatinine levels did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions. Implementation of a multimedia diabetes education programme could improve patients’ diabetes and insulin injection knowledge, insulin injection skills, self-efficacy in insulin injection and satisfaction with health education. Healthcare providers should improve quality of patient care by providing multimedia diabetes health education.