The "Skills for Change" Diabetes Nutrition Education Program was a one-year, community-based conducted in Ambulatory Health Care Services health centers in Al Ain. The project involved nutrition education to improve blood glucose control, diet and physical activity levels of Emirati adults with type 2 diabetes.
Despite the high prevalence of diabetes and its complications in the UAE, very few diabetes education intervention studies have been conducted in a representative population in the country. The Skills for Change Program was a one-year, community-based, cluster randomized study involving Emirati adults with type 2 diabetes. We implemented a behavioral lifestyle intervention to improve glycemic control, food choices, and physical activity levels and to decrease sedentarity. The project was culturally adapted to Emirati adults with type 2 diabetes and was driven by theoretical principles of behavior change and education to enhance intervention effectiveness.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
382
In addition to usual care in the health center, the intervention included 7 visits with the health center dietitian for individual nutrition counseling, invitation for group nutrition education (5 sessions), individual counseling for physical activity, invitation for a 6-weekly structured group physical activity, DVD on physical activity to perform physical activity at home.
Patients received usual care including education as part of the diabetes management from their healthcare professionals (physicians and nurses), normally every 2-3 months. Visits with the health center dietitian were arranged as per physician referral.
Ambulatory Healthcare Services, SEHA
Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates
Change in HbA1c
Time frame: 12 months
Change in Total Cholesterol, LDL, HDL and Triglycerides
Time frame: 12 months
Change in Dietary Intake (Total Calories, Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, Dietary Fiber and Sodium)
Dietary intake was assessed using 24 hour recall with USDA Multiple Pass Method
Time frame: 12 months
Change in Physical Activity (total METs and total duration)
Physical Activity was assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form.
Time frame: 12 months
Change in Sitting time (minutes)
Sitting time was assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form.
Time frame: 12 months
Change in Weight
Time frame: 12 months
Change in BMI
Time frame: 12 months
Change in Nutrition Knowledge
Questionnaire was used to assess knowledge of food sources of carbohydrates and dietary fiber
Time frame: 12 months
Change in Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Score
Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (Bradley,C) was used
Time frame: 12 months
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