However , overall there did not appear to be a significant difference between individual education and usual care .
In the small number of studies comparing group and individual education , there was an equal impact on HbA1c at 12 to 18 months .
BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes is a common and costly chronic disease which is associated with significant premature mortality and morbidity .
Although patient education is an integral component of diabetes care , there remain uncertainties regarding the effectiveness of different methods and modes of education .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of individual patient education  on metabolic control , diabetes knowledge and psychosocial outcomes .
Effects of general practice-based nurse-counselling on ambulatory blood pressure and antihypertensive drug prescription in patients at increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Lifestyle programmes delivered by academic nurse-counsellors in a primary care setting lowered blood pressure ( BP ) among at-risk patients . We examined whether the programmes could be successfully implemented by nurses employed in Australian general practice s. In a r and omised controlled trial , 212 of 591 eligible 20–75-year olds with hypertension , Type II diabetes or coronary disease from seven practice s volunteered . Patients were r and omised to : a ‘ Low ’ group with one face-to-face individual counselling session , then monthly telephone contacts for 1 year ( n=69 ) ; a ‘ High ’ group with individual face-to-face counselling up to 1 h monthly for 1 year ( n=74 ) or a control group receiving usual care only ( n=69 ) , and were evaluated at baseline and 12 and 18 months later ; 164 individuals completed the study . Patients ' usual doctors continued to prescribe in all groups . Changes in 24 h ambulatory BP did not differ significantly between groups at 12 months ( Low , −2±2/1±1 mmHg ; High , + 4±2/1± 1 mmHg ; usual care , + 1±2/1±1 mmHg ) or 18 months ( −2±2/2±1 mmHg ; −4±2/3±2 mmHg ; −1±2/2± 1 mmHg , respectively ) . Antihypertensive drugs prescribed decreased by 12 months in 33 % of the High , 5 % of the Low and 13 % of the control groups ( P=0.008 ) and by 36 , 7 and 16 % at 18 months ( P=0.018 ) . After 18 months , targets for BP control were not met in about 60 % of patients and almost 50 % had clinic BP above 140/90 mmHg . Year-long interaction with nurse-counsellors may influence longer-term antihypertensive drug prescription , possibly by improving compliance . Suboptimal BP control suggests that continuing physician education on BP targets is needed
However , overall there did not appear to be a significant difference between individual education and usual care .
In the small number of studies comparing group and individual education , there was an equal impact on HbA1c at 12 to 18 months .
BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes is a common and costly chronic disease which is associated with significant premature mortality and morbidity .
Although patient education is an integral component of diabetes care , there remain uncertainties regarding the effectiveness of different methods and modes of education .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of individual patient education  on metabolic control , diabetes knowledge and psychosocial outcomes .