Group/audiovisual instruction for patients with diabetes. Learning achievements and time economics.

Patients with diabetes receiving instruction in group classes utilizing audiovisual teaching techniques achieved significantly higher post-test scores than those taught individually in the traditional bedside manner. In addition to the significantly greater learning, the dietitian's time was reduced by 100 per cent, based on classes of eight patients. The study was conducted by randomly allocating forty-five qualified patients to control or experimental groups, pre-testing them using a questionaire-interview, giving bedside or class dietary instruction, and post-testing, using the same questionaire. Various personal characteristcs of the participants, as well as data relating to the diabetic state, were also examined for possible relationships to test scores and to one another.