Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Although education is widely regarded as one of the pillars of diabetes treatment, it is relatively little work analysing its effectiveness. Therefore we would like to present our prospective observations.

Method: In 2003–2004, 500 consecutive patients visiting our diabetes education centre put to the test the knowledge of diabetes as 20 questions which focus on practical skills proceedings in diabetes. We did not have a direct affect their further treatment carried out by general practitioners and diabetologists.

Results: Patients who survived had significantly higher number of correct answers (69±22 vs 53±21%, P<0.001). Of the 20 questions, there were no differences in only three concerning the definition, diabetic foot prevention, and management of fever. In both groups, more than 80% of those granted the right answers to these questions.

While the same test of knowledge about diabetes, made again after 9 years among 100 patients gave a surprisingly similar result n (68 vs 69%, P=0.417).

Interpretation: Knowledge test about diabetes checker practical ability to proceedings in diabetes proved to be an important tool in assessing the risk of death during the next 8–9 years. This does not mean automatically that the possible improvement in diabetes knowledge would translate into longer life of our patients. However, this can be checked in the intervention study, where the directions of education will be determined by the results of the practical test procedure.