Audit of a diabetic health education program at a large Primary Health Care Center in Asir region

Objectives: To evaluate the health education program in a large Primary Hea lth Care Center, to find out the problems faced by the staff and to suggest the practical and relevant solutions. Methods: This study was carried out at Wasat Abha Primary Health Care Cente r, Asir region during 1997. The files of diabetics who attended the center were evaluated for health education topics by using a checklist. The essent ial structure of diabetic health education program was assessed by using an other check list designed by the investigators. Data entry and analysis was carried out through SPSS package. Chi-square test was applied wherever nec essary. Results: The total number of diabetics who attended Wasat Abha Primary Heal th Care Center was 198. The duration of diabetes mellitus was 7.7+/-5.8 yea rs, Ninety percent of these were married, 50.5% were educated and 79% were employed. Compliance to appointment was good in 60% and poor in 30% of diab etics. About 73%, of the diabetics received at least one health education t opic while 27% did not receive any health education at all. Only 33% of dia betic patients had adequate health education. Ninety one percent were provi ded with diabetic identification cards, 80% were explained about diabetes a nd 77% were educated about the role of diet. Essential structure for diabet es education program was found to be unsatisfactory. Conclusion: Effective diabetic health education program needs the availabil ity of all essential structures, community participation and integration of the government and private sectors. The deficiencies in the structures and the process of health education programs in our practice are almost univer sal to other Primary Health Care Centers in the Asir region. Providing the primary Health Care Centers with all essential structures and annual auditi ng are complimentary to a successful diabetic health education program.