Diabetes education programme for diabetes associations, WDF15-1307

Objectives

• Project WDF15-1307 builds on successfully completed project WDF09-430 through which the Mexican Diabetes Federation (FMD) piloted a capacity building model targeting to strengthen state level diabetes associations.
• With WDF09-430’s promising results in terms of patient education and community mobilisation, improved linkages with primary level care and revitalisation of idle patient associations at state level in low-income settings, it was deemed relevant to pursue a larger scale and refined second phase partnership with FMD.
• The objective is to improve diabetes care and prevention of complications from diabetes through roll out of large-scale patient education programmes. This will be done by strengthening and building the capacity of 19 state-level patient associations in 19 states of Mexico with emphasis on training diabetes educators.

Approach

The project activities include:

• Preparation of diabetes educator course and patient educator course through update and refinement of training material and education modalities developed and applied through phase 1 project WDF09-430. Lessons learnt to be absorbed concerning preparatory process at state-level associations (AMDs)
• Capacity building of AMDs at state level through training of diabetes educators undertaken by FMD expert facilitators at Mexico City level, and, through provision of training, education and awareness material, and basic equipment. It is noted here that targeted AMDs possess their own clinical and education facilities supported by medical staff from the local public health system.
• Roll-out of patient education courses at AMD level, including mobilisation of diabetes patients through awareness and enrolment campaigns and through collaboration with primary level clinics. Once enrolled, the patients can take either a ‘basic’ or and ‘intensive’ course, the latter also to include HbA1c test, etc.
• Capacity building of AMDs to provide a basic electronic patient registry with data to be recorded by trained educators and compiled by local AMD coordinators.
• Comprehensive monitoring to be undertaken by FMD including coordination with and frequents site visits to the states/AMDs targeted, and central level monitoring of clinical outcomes.

Expected results

• 60 diabetes educators trained and provided comprehensive material and equipment
• 19 state level associations (AMDs) to be strengthened through capacity building including close communication and stronger ties with FMD central level team in Mexico City
• Approximately 18,000 patients completed the ‘basic course’ and 4,000 patients completed the ‘intensive course’, with participants distributed across the 19 states/AMDs. There will be an emphasis on enrolment of patients from low-income areas with limited access to care
• Courses emphasise diabetes self-management