RESUMO
The purpose of this paper is to report the dramatic changes in the point prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the adult population of Jamaica following education intervention. The initial prevalence in the 15-and-over age group was determined by a two-stage stratified random sampling design in 1993. In 1997, the University of the West Indies Diabetes Outreach Project thru its public service arm, the Diabetes Association of Jamaica, developed and implemented a Peer Facilitators Diabetes Education Programme. This effort has realized an increased patient and public education as well as concomitant increased patient compliance and a reduction in related complications. The Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2008 examined, using a stratified, random, two-stage cluster sample survey, and a nationally representative sample of 2848 Jamaicans aged 15-74. The most dramatic outcome is the decrease in the prevalence from 17.9% to 7.9% in the adult population, age 15+.
Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Diabetes Mellitus/prevenção & controle , Feminino , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Jamaica/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lay diabetes facilitators (LDFs) to increase knowledge and improve control among persons with diabetes. Methodology. A prospective cohort study was conducted among persons with diabetes in 16 health care centres in Jamaica to evaluate the effect of LDFs on glycaemia [haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)] and body mass index (BMI). One hundred and fifty-nine persons with diabetes were recruited for the intervention from eight clinical settings in which LDFs had been recruited and trained. A matched group of 159 were recruited as a comparison sample from eight clinical settings without LDFs. HbA1c and BMI were measured at baseline and 6 months. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c at baseline for the intervention and comparison groups were 7.9% and 8%, respectively. After 6 months, the intervention group showed a mean decrease of 0.6% while the comparison group showed an increase of 0.6%, significant after control for potential confounders (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant change in BMI between groups. CONCLUSION: Patients educated by LDFs showed improved metabolic control over the first 6 months of observation.