Waiting room project: a proposal for diabetes education - doi:10.5020/18061230.2006.p197

Abstract

Education is an essential aspect of diabetic care. For this, many strategies have been searched. The objectives of the present study were to describe “The Waiting Room Project”, a proposal based on using the time in which the patient waits for individual attendance, to promote Diabetes Education; and to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological profile of diabetic participants of this project. Twenty meetings were conducted from March to October 2006, with 350 patients followed-up at the Diabetes Clinics of Walter Cantídio University Hospital-UFC, and their companions. Of these, 76 randomly assigned patients were interviewed. The meetings occurred on each Friday, in 2 sessions of approximately half hour, which were coordinated by a multidisciplinary team, and took into account 25 patients each. At the end, a breakfast was served and used for nutritional education. Among the interviewed participants, women prevailed (85.5%), with mean age of 60.4±9.1 years, and average time of diagnosis of 10.6±5.9 years. In relation to treatment, 40.7% used insulin, 63.1% used oral anti-diabetics and 9.2% only adopted life style changes. Drugs compliance was present in only 47.8% of the participants and the majority (67.1%) did not practice physical activities. Regarding to the diet, only 31.5% fully adhered to it. More than 75% of the participants could read and write, and earned a minimum wage or less. From the observations derived from practice, one may perceive: a greater motivation of the patients after each meeting, a more active participation in doctor’s appointments and an increasing interest on their disease and care. To provide the participation of diabetic patients in their treatments, stimulating self-care, is a challenge to be reached by all health units, and that can be favored by strategies like this described.