THE ROLE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN PATIENT EDUCATION TO PROMOTE HOME MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN WAD MEDANI TOWN, SUDAN 2003

INTRODUCTION: Faculty of Medicine University of Gezira, utilized a community based educational strategy. In the module primary health care centre practice and family medicine (PHCCP & FM), each student is assigned a family for whom priority health problems are identified and education given accordingly. OBJECTIVES: To provide, through medical students, health education to diabetics in the assigned families and to assess the impact of the students’ intervention. METHODS: This is longitudinal interventional study which was conducted in three stages: training of medical students, education to diabetic patients and evaluation of the intervention. RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference in the students’ knowledge and skills including communication skills on the home management of diabetes mellitus. Diabetics in the families were 80(3.3%), 42 (52.5%) females, 38 (47.5%) males. Their ages ranged between 22-78 years. Illiteracy rate was 9 (11.2%), most of the families’ incomes ranged from low to middle, only 25% were of the high income bracket. More than half 47(58.7%) of the diabetics reported complications of diabetes. Eye complications 6 (7.5%), peripheral neuropathy 15 (18.7%), foot sepsis 4 (4.5%), urinary tract infection 11 (13.7%), renal failure 2 (2.5%), others 9 (11.2%). There was a highly significant improvement in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the diabetics, as a result of the student intervention. These included compliance to treatment, adherence to diabetic diet, regular care of the feet, knowledge of major diabetic complications, knowledge of signs of hypoglycaemia, and home management of hypoglycemia. Ten cases with serious complications were referred to Wad Medani teaching hospital.