Therapeutic education and self-care: Results from the cross-sectional study Diabetes, Attitudes, Wishes and Needs 2 (DAWN2) in Spain

Abstract

Introduction: Therapeutic education (TE) has been gradually introduced progressively into diabetes mellitus care programs with the aim of providing patients and their families or caregivers with the necessary skills for the self-management of the disease. The Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs 2 (DAWN2) study helps to clarify what are the unmet needs with regards to self-management and the TE offer available to patients and their families. The objective of this paper is to analyse the results of the DAWN2 study regarding self-care habits and participation in TE activities in Spain.

Methods: The DAWN2 is an observational, cross-national study. In this paper, an analysis was performed on the Spanish sample of diabetic patients (502) and family members (123).

Results: Patients report taking their medications as recommended by their doctor an average of 6.4 days/week, and self-monitor their blood glucose an average of 3.4 days/week. The large majority (86%) of patients with diabetes mellitus type 1, 59% of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, and 21% of family members state to have participated in education activities.

Conclusions: Diabetes educators should reinforce the messages about the benefits of self-care, particularly for patients who are in the early stages of the disease. Likewise, access for family members and people with diabetes mellitus type 2 to TE programs should be improved, and these programs for diabetic patients and their families should be included in the services portfolio of health centres.

Keywords: Autocuidado; Caregivers; Chronic disease; Cuidadores; Diabetes mellitus; Educación en salud; Enfermedad crónica; Health education; Self-care.