The Impact of Health Education on Hemoglobin A1C in Diabetic Patients at the Family Medicine Department of King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah.

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a long-term condition associated with severe complications. Individuals with diabetes must make numerous self-management decisions and participate in diverse care activities. Diabetes self-management education and support assist patients in making these decisions and performing these activities, enhancing their health outcomes. The study aims to assess the effects of health education on median hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) levels, the development of diabetic complications, and the number of hospital admissions in patients with uncontrolled type 2 DM.

METHODS

This prospective quasi-experimental study, conducted at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from September 2020 to September 2022, assessed the impact of a structured diabetic education program on uncontrolled type 2 DM patients. The study involved 100 patients with HbA1c >8%: 50 in the intervention group who received the program and 50 in the control group who did not. HbA1c levels were measured before and after the intervention. Data was collected securely, and an experienced biostatistician performed statistical analysis.

FINDINGS

The two groups found no significant differences in age, disease duration, HbA1c, medication type, insulin type, education level, employment, and clinical visits. However, the control group had significantly more females (40 (81.6%) vs. 32 (64%), p=0.049), and the intervention group had larger family sizes (43 (86%) with >4 members vs. 21 (42.9%), p<0.0001). The intervention group showed a significant decrease in HbA1c from baseline across all measurements post-educational program (p<0.0001), whereas the control group did not show significant changes. Economic status also differed significantly (p=0.024). No significant differences were found between groups in follow-up HbA1c measurements.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates that the diabetic education program at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital effectively lowered HbA1c levels in type 2 DM patients, confirming the program's role in enhancing glycemic control through structured self-management education and support.