Abstract
Objective
To analyze the effect of an educational intervention on insulin knowledge and management at home.
Methods
Quantitative, before and after study. Participation of 61 people with diabetes mellitus on insulin therapy in a medium-sized municipality in southern Brazil between January and August 2017. For data collection, were used a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic and clinical variables, another questionnaire addressing knowledge about insulin use/management, and a checklist for observation of insulin preparation and administration. The intervention consisted of verbal guidance, insulin management demonstration, supervision of the application technique and delivery of a folder. Data were collected before the intervention and three months after its completion. The MacNemar’s test was applied to evaluate the effect of the intervention.
Results
The intervention was effective in acquisition of knowledge related to the storage, preparation and use of insulin. There was a difference in the frequency of correct answers on the knowledge and administration of insulin before and after intervention and 31 questions were subject to intervention, which was efficient in 96.77% of cases and statistically significant in 80.64%.
Conclusion
There was a significant improvement in knowledge and use/management of insulin after the educational intervention.
Diabetes mellitus; Insulin; Health education; Self care