Mahvash Salsali - Full professor nursing, Departman of medical surgical nursing, School of nursing and midwifery, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hamid Salehi - Instructor of nursing, Departman of medical surgical nursing, School of nursing and midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Hydeh Noktehdan - Instructor of nursing, Departman of medical surgical nursing, School of nursing and midwifery, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mostafa Hoseini - Associate professor of Medical Statistics, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran

Background: Diabetes control needs more effective educational programs. Self-care education is an important factor in diabetes control. It seems that the symptoms can be the proper stimulus for the direction toward self-care. Aim: To evaluate the effects of the using SFMM on HbA1c, knowledge, self care practices, and symptoms of type2 diabetic patients. Methods: Seventy type 2 diabetic patients were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. Data was assessed using four-part questionnaire, diabetic knowledge, self-care practices and symptoms of patients. HbA1c was also measured. The subjects in the intervention group received 3-4 individual educational sessions, which lasted 60-90 minutes. The educational sessions were focused on the self-management behaviors. The subjects in the control group received routine educations. After 3 months, the above mentioned variables were measured again. Data was analyzed with SPSS 15.0 and STATA using paired T-tests, GLM, fisher-test, and covariance. Results: The finding presented in this study showed a decrease in HbA1c levels in the experimental group, however, this decrease did not reach statistical significance (P=0/06). There was a significant increase in the knowledge of diabetes (P<0/001) and self-care practices such as diet (P=0/02). The intervention group experienced a decrease in hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia symptoms (P=0/02, nP=0/02). However, no statistical differences were observed in foot-care (P=0/56), physical activity (P=0/3), blood glucose control (P=0/4), and medication (P=0/35) self-care practices. The differences in frequency of sensational symptoms (P=0/33), and other symptoms of patients between two groups were not significant (P=0/12). Conclusion: The results showed that application of this model (SFMM) is effective in the education of type 2 diabetes. In addition, this model suggested the need for designing educational programs.

health education, Diabetes mellitus type 2, Symptom Focused Management Model