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 .
The Relative Effectiveness of Educational and Behavioral Instruction Programs for Patients With NIDDM: A Randomized Trial
In this r and omized trial patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes were allocated to one of four programs : a minimal instruction program ( n=59 ) . an education program of individual visits ( n=57 ) , an education program incorporating a group education course ( n=66 ) , and a behavioral program ( n=59 ) . Individual and group education programs had higher attrition rates than the behavioral and minimal programs . The four programs , which involved different amounts of patient contact time , delivery format , and instructional strategies . all produced reductions in HbA atid BMI , with no significant differences between the programs . There were no differences between groups over three time periods in total cholesterol , HDL cholesterol , systolic blood pressure , or proportion of patients consulting an ophthalmologist . The behavioral program ploduced a greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure over 12 months that the education programs and a greater reduction in the cholesterol risk ratio over 3 months than the other programs . The behavioral program patients were more likely to have visited a podiatrist after 6 months and reported higher satisfaction
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 .