DATAT
PROCESSING : A MODERN TOOL FOR EVALUATING KNOWLEDGE IN DIABETIC PATIENTS
B. Le
Luyer*, A Duquenoy*, D Bouige***, J Boulloche*, P Le Roux, *Department of
Pediatric, ** Department of Biochemistry GH Le Havre 76083 Cedex France
The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and metabolic
control concerning diabetes mellitus improved with time by means of a
computer assisted educational program.
Design and methods: The logistic data is composed of
83 items divided into 4 chapters: the causes of hypoglycemia (28 items
among which 12 concern nutritional aspects), prevention (16 items),
treatment (22 items) of hypoglycemia and particular situations (17
questions).
Results: Once
diabetes mellitus had been diagnosed, 52 patients underwent, by means of
this program, a test to evaluate their knowledge on diabetes. The mean
duration of this test was 111 minutes ± 75. The global performance was of
77% ± 8,6 correct answers. Individual scores for each chapter was as
follows: 81% for the causes, 85% for the prevention, 94% for the treatment
of hypoglycemia and 88% for nutritional management. A second test was
performed, after a mean lapse of time of 4.5 years, in 22 patients.
Compared to the initial test, apart from the duration of the test (65 ± 20)
the results were unchanged. Furthermore there was no relationship between
the knowledge of diabetes and HbA1c values.
Conclusions: It seems very probable that
stimulation provided by the information exchanged between physician and
patient concerning the management of diabetes is insufficient in improving
the knowledge and comprehension of diabetes.