Theory-based strategy to enhance nurses' teaching skills with patients
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The purpose of this study was to develop an evidence-based educational program for registered nurses to improve their knowledge and confidence in providing diabetes education and integrate teaching into patient encounters using motivational interviewing techniques.
Relevance/Significance:
Diabetes is a growing public health problem and nurses lack confidence in educating patients about diabetes care. Patients with diabetes can be taught self-management strategies in order to decrease complications. Nurses are at the front lines to start the education process but not all nurses are confident in teaching patients about diabetes. A theory-based education session designed to enhance nurses' confidence as patient educators holds promise.
Strategy and Implementation:
A pilot study was completed using a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design on a medical telemetry unit in a large metropolitan hospital. The study included a convenience sample of 32 medical/surgical nurses who self-reported their confidence and self-efficacy levels on a 10 item Likert-type scale previously tested for validity and reliability. Nurses participated in a two hour interactive educational workshop in which they learned methods to include diabetes education during patient encounters using motivational interviewing techniques.
Evaluation:
In the pilot study nurses significantly increased their confidence and self-efficacy in diabetes education on every survey item after the educational workshop. Pre- and post- workshop documentation of diabetes education increased from 10% to 73% and the number of diabetes encounters was increased from 1 to almost 5 educational encounters per patient per hospital stay.
Implications for Practice:
When nurses become more confident in diabetes education and start the education process about diabetes self-management, patients may improve self-management of their disease to manage problems early and reduce complications which could lead to a decrease in hospital admissions and complications.