Reach and effectiveness of DVD and in-person diabetes self-management education.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the reach and effectiveness of a diabetes self-management DVD compared to classroom-based instruction.

METHODS

A hybrid preference/randomized design was used with participants assigned to Choice v. Randomized and DVD v. Class conditions. One hundred and eighty-nine adults with type 2 diabetes participated. Key outcomes included self-management behaviours, process measures including DVD implementation and hypothesized mediators and clinical risk factors.

RESULTS

In the Choice condition, four times as many participants chose the mailed DVD as selected Class-based instruction (38.8 v. 9.4%, p<0.001). At the 6-month follow-up, the DVD produced results generally not significantly different than classroom-based instruction, but a combined Class plus DVD condition did not improve outcomes beyond those produced by the classes alone.

DISCUSSION

The DVD appears to have merit as an efficient and appealing alternative to brief classroom-based diabetes education, and the hybrid design is recommended to provide estimates of programme reach.