Patient education is increasingly being used as part of the treatment course and is one of four of the specialist health care’s statutory responsibilities in Norway. Group education is commonly used by the learning and activity centres.
The Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services has summarized available research on the effect of group education to patients and their next of kin. We included 15 systematic reviews that compared group education with individual lessons, nothing or placebo, treatment as usual, treatment as usual or waiting list or no treatment, self-help, or other treatment. The reviews included people with type 2 diabetes, schizophrenia, rheumatism, cancer, back and neck pain, smoking cessation, birth preparation and a mixed group of patients with different chronic conditions.
Most comparisons were of low or very low quality and often the documentation necessary was lacking. However, based on the comparisons of high to low quality, group education was found to be:
Group education generally appears to have a positive effect on psychosocial outcomes such as mental health, coping, relations and knowledge about own illness.
For people with type 2 diabetes, group education improves long term blood glucose and possibly leads to better skills, knowledge and patient satisfaction compared with usual care, waiting list or no intervention. No effect on quality of life or health behaviour were detected compared with no treatment or placebo
For people with acute back pain, group education may possibly decrease pain duration work absence compared with no treatment or placebo. No statistical differences were detected compared with physical activity
For people with schizophrenia, group education may possibly improve mental health and knowledge about own illness comapred with usual care
For people with various cancers, group education probably impacts positively on depression, anxiety, quality of life, skills and relations with partner compared with usual care. No statistical differences were detected compared with no treatment or placebo.
Group education probably increases the number of people who stop smoking compared with both self help groups and no intervention. No statistical differences were detected compared with nicotin replacement.
Keywords: Patient Education as Topic; Group based education; Group based training; Self care psychoeducation; Self Management.
Copyright ©2011 by The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH).