Chanika Johnjumrut. Individualized empowerment approach in dietary self-management to improve metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes . Master's Degree(Food and Nutrition for Development). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
Individualized empowerment approach in dietary self-management to improve metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes
Abstract:
“Patient Empowerment” is an alternative approach to help patients making their
own decisions in setting goals and making choices. This study aimed to measure the
effectiveness of the empowerment approach in Thai type 2 diabetes patients on the dietary
self-management and metabolic control.
Thirty patients were included in the study. An individualized empowerment
program through 6 sessions in 16 weeks of dietary education and counseling was created.
Personal goal cards and 3-day food records were used as main discussion tools during
follow-up visits. Outcomes included changes of scores from problem-solving dietary
scenarios, changes in dietary self-care behaviors, and levels of plasma glucose, HbA1c, lipid
profile, and body composition.
After 16 weeks individualized empowerment approach, results revealed that 16 out
of 30 of the participants demonstrated higher problem-solving dietary scenario scores of all
scenarios except for the “stress management scenario”. 80% of the participants achieved
their own goals at the end of the study and the mean percentage of goal achieved by
participants was 87.2±10.0. There were significant reductions of carbohydrate, fat, alcohol,
and salt consumption by participants after the study. There was also a significant reduction
in the total calorie intake. Additionally, there was a significant decline in high fat meat and
an increase in both very lean and lean meat consumption. Furthermore, there were
reductions in total fat intake, both animal fat and cooking oils. Healthier cooking methods
were also adopted (P<.001). Moreover, there was a significant increase in vegetable
consumption. In conclusion, these changes led to a significant reduction in overall body
composition, especially body weight (1.8 kg in 16-week) (P<.001), percentage of body fat
(P<001), and blood pressure (P<0.04). Consequently, biochemical tests revealed significant
reductions in blood cholesterol level and in glycemic control. After 16 weeks intervention,
HbA1c levels demonstrated significant decline by 1.7 % points (P<.001). Furthermore, there
was no a significant decline in HbA1c levels 3 months after completion of the program (P
=0.146). These findings suggest that a step-by-step approach in empowerment process
tends to facilitate better problem solving ability changes in dietary self-care behaviors
which result in good glycemic and lipid control.