Knowledge, attitudes, technical competence, and blood glucose control of Type 1 diabetic patients during and after an education programme.

Thirty-one Type 1 diabetic patients entered a 12-month education programme in which attitudes to diabetes, knowledge of diabetes, and technical competence were assessed using questionnaires and practical tests. A closely matched group of 25 control patients continued to receive routine clinic care. Patients completing the education programme showed improved blood glucose control (HbA1 decreased from 11.8 +/- 0.4% to 10.5 +/- 0.3%, mean +/- SE, p less than 0.01), whereas blood glucose control was not altered in the control group (HbA1 11.8 +/- 0.5% before and 11.6 +/- 0.4% after 12 months). Patients completing the education programme also showed greater knowledge (p less than 0.001), more favourable attitudes (p less than 0.03), and increased competence in technical skills (p less than 0.02) compared with the control group. Six months after completing the programme blood glucose control deteriorated (HbA1 11.0 +/- 0.4%, p less than 0.05), although knowledge, attitudes, and technical competence were unchanged. This might reflect the withdrawal of extrinsic motivation and attention provided during the programme. Thus consideration should be given to development of the patient's intrinsic motivation to prolong the benefits of diabetes education programmes.