Abstract:

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of education on rational drug use and health literacy in people with diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: This pre-test and post-test control group interventional study was conducted between 24 January and 25 July 2020 in Zonguldak Diabetes Association in Turkey. The universe of the study consists of 238 diabetic people registered to the association, and the sample group consists of 154 diabetic people who were registered members of the association who had inadequate and problematic-limited health literacy according to the data collected previously and other sample criteria. Groups of 4-6 people created from the intervention group were applied face-to-face by the researcher with a power point presentations, an educational program that included basic knowledge of diabetes, rational knowledge of drug use and knowledge of health literacy. Data from the study were collected using the Rational Drug Use Scale, the Turkish Health Literacy Scale and Diagnostic Form. Intervention and control groups were established by randomization method regardless of the evaluation results. After three months, assessments of groups were repeated. Results: In the evaluation of the intervention group in the third month after the education, statistically significant changes were determined in Rational Drug Use Scale score and Turkish Health Literacy Scale score. Conclusion: It was found that providing group-based education on general diabetes knowledge, rational drug use and health literacy to people with diabetes was effective in increasing rational drug use and health literacy level.

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