The Effect of a Self Regulation Education Program for the Promotion and Maintenance of Self Care Behavior in the Chronically ill patients: For Diabetic Patients

Gu, Mee Ock

Abstract

This study was conducted to test the effect of a self regulation education program as a nursing intervention with chronically ill patients. A quasi experimental research (non equivalent control group pretest-posttest design) was used in this study. The subjects were 30 non insulin dependent diabetic patients (experimental group: 14 patients, control group: 16 patients). The study was carried out from May, 1995 to February, 1996. Data were collected before the education program, immediately after and 2 months later and were analyzed with repeated measure ANCOVA, paired t-test and t-test. The results are as follows: 1. There was a significant difference in self efficacy between the two groups(F=27.61, P=0.000). There was a significant difference according to experimental stages(F=33.09, P=0.000) and interaction between education and experimental stages(F=30.21, P=0.000), 2. There was a significant difference in self care behavior between the two groups (F=27.05, P=0. 000). There was a significant difference according to experimental stages(F=31.14, P=0.000) and interaction between education and experimental stages(F=28.88, P=0.000), 3. There was a significant difference in glycemic control between before the education program and 2 months later in the experimental group (t=2.88, P=0.013). But there was no significant difference between before the education program and 2 months later in the control group. These results suggest that a self regulation education program is effective in promoting and maintaining self care behavior and in improving glycemic control. Thus this program can be recommended as an effective nursing intervention for chronically ill patients including diabetic patients.