Controle do diabetes mellitus tipo 2 : análise de um programa de intervenção com informações sobre a doença via chamadas telefônicas

Abstract

Randomized controlled trial that aimed to evaluate the effect of an intervention program with guidance on the disease via phone calls made by nurses in clinical and laboratory control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study population comprised 31 participants recruited in a Health Center of Fortaleza-Ceará, Brazil, from October 2013 to May 2014. Of these, 15 composed the control group (CG), receiving routine care in accordance with the institution’s protocol. The remaining (16) constituted the experimental group (EG), receiving fortnightly phone calls, in addition to routine care. During recruitment, the patients were interviewed about their personal and pathological characteristics, as well as their knowledge about the disease and treatment adherence. In another face-to-face contact, we conducted anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, along with laboratory collection of all participants. Next, they were randomized and those from the EG began receiving guidance about the disease via phone calls made by the researcher. Altogether, there were 12 biweekly phone calls during 24 weeks. With the end of the intervention, we scheduled new face-to-face contact for repeating the questions with regard to knowledge and adherence, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, as well as new laboratory collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 software. The participants were mostly female, with basic education, had partners, did not live alone, and belonged to economic class C. As regards the time of diagnosis, the CG ranged from 1 to 20 years, while the EG ranged from 1 to 30 years. The use of oral antidiabetic drugs was predominant. Regarding the knowledge about the disease, patients from the EG obtained an increased mean score. The worst adherence item identified was associated with physical activity, whilst the use of medication presented the best adherence. There was a slight decrease in average values of the body mass index and waist circumference among patients from the EG. The waist-hip ratio showed a slight increase. As for the blood pressure, both systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) presented reduced average in the EG. Regarding the fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and the estimated average glucose, we observed decreased average values after the intervention. In turn, the means of total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and triglycerides showed increase. Thus, we proved the hypothesis that educational and counseling strategies, as well as for promoting lifestyle changes, performed by nurses via phone calls can contribute to the knowledge about the disease, treatment adherence, and clinical and laboratory control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus