Improving Self-Efficacy of Type 2 Diabetes Patients in the Primary Care Setting

Abstract

Problem: Diabetes is a complex disease and due to its chronicity, self-management education is essential to controlling its progression. Many primary care providers (PCP) surveyed, believe they do not have enough time during a routine office visit to educate patients on diabetes self-management skills to enhance their self-efficacy. Project Aim: This project had three aims: (a) introduce providers to the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Living with Type 2 Diabetes program; (b) introduce type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients to the ADA’s Living with Type 2 Diabetes program; and (c) assess patient’s utilization and level of increased self-efficacy. Project Method: Project participants were made up of a convenience sample of referred adult T2DM patients from PCPs over the course of four weeks. This online program was directed towards referred diabetic patients to enhance their understanding of this disease. After one month of collecting consents, an orally administered phone survey was completed. An analysis was concluded based on results from the phone survey of patient utilization and satisfaction of the ADA’s online education program. Keywords: Diabetes Algorithm of Care, Living with Type 2 Diabetes Program, diabetes self-management education (DSME), primary care, diabetes mellitus type 2, self-efficacy and diabetes, Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)