Effect of Group Patient Education on Glycemic Control Among People Living with Type 2 Diabetes in Vietnam: A Randomized Controlled Single-Center Trial.

introductionIn low- to middle-income countries such as Vietnam, urgent measures are required to prevent and control type 2 diabetes and its complications. This study measured the effect of a 3-month patient education and self-management intervention in a low-resource setting on diabetes knowledge and levels of blood glucose control.

methodsThis was a single-center randomized controlled study among adult outpatients with type 2 diabetes. Patients were randomly assigned to 3-month community intervention consisting of group education for type 2 diabetes knowledge, diet, exercise in combination with usual diabetes care, or to usual diabetes care alone (control). Diabetes knowledge was measured with a modified Michigan University Diabetes Knowledge Test (MDKT). Other study outcomes included change in mean HbA1c, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and systolic blood pressure (SBP).

resultsA total of 364 patients were randomized, 182 to the intervention group and 182 to control. The two groups were similar regarding main baseline characteristics. The male/female ratio was 45.1%/54.9% and mean age was 62.2 ± 9.3 years. Approximately half the patients (48.1%) were overweight and 15.7% were obese, mean baseline HbA1c was 8.21 ± 1.92%, and only 29.9% of participants had a baseline HbA1c < 7.0%. At baseline, diabetes knowledge was "very poor" or "poor" in 63.7% of patients. After a 3-month follow-up, the proportion achieving the target MDKT score increased from 37.4% to 81.3% in the intervention group and from 35.2% to 51.7% in the control (between-group difference P < 0.001). The estimate (SD) of the difference between intervention and control groups was - 1.63 (2.16), 95% CI - 2.07 to - 1.18. Mean changes from baseline HbA1c were - 0.54 ± 1.41% and - 0.18 ± 1.33% in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P = 0.012). Among those with poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7%) at baseline, mean changes at 3 months were - 0.80 ± 1.52% vs 0.41 ± 1.47%, respectively, (P = 0.013). Statistically significant decreases in FBG and SBP were also observed in the intervention group at 3 months, but not in the control group. Multivariate analysis revealed the variables with the strongest influence on blood glucose control at 3 months were study group, baseline MDKT score, diabetes duration, and baseline HbA1c (all P ≤ 0.05).

conclusionProvision of a structured educational program to Vietnamese people living with type 2 diabetes is effective at improving disease knowledge and is associated with better glycemic control. Larger and longer-term studies are now warranted to confirm these findings.

trial registrationThis trial was retrospectively registered on 27 May 2020 through the https://clinicaltrials.gov site with the following identifier: NCT04403841.