The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a group visit intervention in comparison with the usual care for elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in a community. We randomized 109 community elderly patients with type 2 diabetes to the intervention group (n = 55) of monthly group visits sessions or to a control group (n = 54) of usual care. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare the changes in HbA1C, diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-management behavior in both groups. At the 6-month follow-up, although no significant difference was observed between the groups regarding HbA1C (p = 0.272). Diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy and self-management scores were higher in patients in the intervention group than that in the control group (p < 0.05). The group visits model increased diabetes knowledge and self-efficacy and improved patients' self-management behavior. The model was found suitable for helping these elderly patients with type 2 diabetes achieve effective self-management.
Keywords: Community; Elderly patients; Group visits model; Type 2 diabetes.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.