Empowerment Technique for Self-Management of Diabetes Patients in Accordance with the Community Life Style

Abstract

The objective of this study was to apply a technique for empowering patients to manage their own appropriate process in accordance with the community lifestyle using Gibson’s empowerment concept. The samples were 84 patients with diabetes regularly attending Koaprabat Health Promotion Hospital, Chian Yai district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province since 2012. The research was conducted during June 2012 to June 2013. An empowerment plan was introduced through (1) recognition by self analysis and joint formulation of self care practice, (2) self-awareness and values with behavior modification plan, (3) continuous self-development according to the plan, (4) development of commitment to self-care and experience sharing, and (5) drawing lessons to verify the results of self development. Documentation tools included set of knowledge on diabetes and health pratice behaviours at the reliability of 0.72 and 0.82. Data collected included lipid profiles, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and HbA1c; and were analyzed by using percentage, mean and the paired t-test. It was found that after participating in the program, the means of knowledge and self-management behaviors scores, lipid profile, FBS and HbA1c of the samples were significantly better (p<0.05). Empowerment technique was able to enhance learning, recognition and awareness; and resulted in behavioral changes. The samples were able to manage themselves so as to effectively control blood glucose level. Moreover, through the experience sharing process the samples had adjusted themselves to the community lifestyle such as consumption of rice available in the community, growing vegetables for consumption, planting and using fresh medicinal herbs, performing exercise, using left-over material for stretching muscles, praying to reduce stress, and adapting to health life. One clear lesson identified in this study was that facilitators or caregivers should change their attitude to be positive and use of “euphemistic speech” in talking, caring, and changing of attitude and behaviors. This empowerment technique can be applied for healthcare in all age groups because it is in line with community lifestyle and meets the needs for problem solving and match the awareness on their problems.