The effectiveness of self‐management programme based on multilevel social resources utilization in diabetes mellitus patients: A randomized controlled study.

Aims: This study aimed to test the effects of a novel diabetes self‐management education (DSME) programme focused on multilevel social resources utilization on improving self‐management behaviour, social resources utilization and haemoglobin Alc (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A randomized controlled design was used. A total of 118 participants with T2DM from two communities were recruited through randomized sampling, and randomly assigned to the novel DSME group or the traditional DSME group. DSME focusing on multilevel social resources utilization was implemented in the novel DSME group. Data were collected at baseline (T0), at the end of the intervention (T1) and 3 months after the end of intervention (T2) from 3 March to 16 November 2014. Results: Comparing these two groups, the participants in the novel DSME group reported significantly better improvement in self‐management behaviour and social resources utilization at T1 and T2 (all p < 0.01). A significant difference was found in the mean improvement of HbA1c level between the two groups at T2 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The novel DSME programme focused on multilevel social resources utilization can effectively enhance T2DM patients' self‐management behaviour and social resource utilization and lower HbA1c levels. More importantly, the effects could last longer. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Traditional diabetes self‐management education does not guarantee lifelong effective diabetes self‐management behaviour.The utilization of multilevel social resources has been found to be positively associated with self‐management behaviour and health outcomes of patients with chronic diseases. What this paper adds? The novel diabetes self‐management education programme is beneficial to community patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as it shows significantly better effects in improving diabetes self‐management behaviour, social resources utilization and HbA1c level, and the effects last longer.Due to the large diabetes patient population and the relative shortage of medical resources in China, focusing on inspiring patients' initiative to actively tap and utilize existing and potential social resources for self‐management is indicated when developing education protocols for diabetes patients. The implications of this paper In addition to traditional self‐management education, community health‐care professionals should pay attention to the education of social resources utilization to further improve and solidify diabetes patients' self‐management behaviour.Especially in places with large population and limited medical resources, it is economical and effective to inspire patients to actively tap and utilize existing and potential social resources for self‐management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]