Effectiveness of an education intervention associated with an exercise program in improving disease-related knowledge and health behaviours among diabetes patients

Objective: to assess the effectiveness of an education intervention associated with an exercise program in improving knowledge and health behaviours among diabetes patients. Methods: Diabetes and prediabetes patients were exposed to an evidence- and theoretically-based comprehensive education intervention over 24 weeks. Patients completed surveys assessing knowledge, physical activity, food intake, self-efficacy, and health literacy. Functional capacity was measured by oxygen uptake. All outcomes were assessed pre- and post-CR. Satisfaction about the education provided was assessed at post-CR. Paired t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and linear regression models were computed to investigate the effectiveness of this intervention. Results: 84 patients consented to participate, of which 47(56.0%) completed post-CR assessments. There was a significant improvement in patients' overall knowledge pre- to post-CR, as well as in physical activity, food intake, self-efficacy, and health literacy (p <0.05). Peak VO2 has clinically significant improved. Results showed a low significant positive correlation was between post-CR knowledge and food intake(r = 0.297:p = 0.04). Linear regression analysis revealed that age(B=-0.051; p = 0.01) was influential in changing post-CR knowledge. Conclusion: The benefits of an education intervention designed for diabetes and prediabetes patients associated with an exercise program have been supported. Practice Implications: This work shows one effective education strategy taken in place that can be replicated in different settings. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.