Abstract
The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of an educational intervention on the knowledge and biochemical and anthropometric parameters of diabetic patients of a unit of the Family Health Strategy in Israelândia, GO, Brazil. A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 83 patients registered in 2015. They were allocated to intervention (GI; n = 38) and control (GC; n = 38) groups. GI participated in an educational intervention based on the Social Cognitive Theory; GC participated in activities developed there. The results obtained by a questionnaire pointed to an improvement in knowledge for GI (p <0.001). Concerning the biochemical/anthropometric parameters, GI presented a decrease in HbA1c (p <0.001), capillary glycemia (p <0.001), BMI (p <0.001) and waist circumference (p <0.001); the reverse occurred to GC. Several aspects were improved through educational interventions that considered the importance of the self-efficacy construct for knowledge empowerment and control of diabetes mellitus.
Keywords:
Health education; Diabetes mellitus; Social cognitive theory