Effectiveness of the New Normal Diabetes Patient Service Program with Community Participation in Bua Noi Subdistrict

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to 1) study the effectiveness of self-management in controlling blood sugar levels in diabetic patients; 2) examine the results of self-management in diabetic patients using the new lifestyle approach in collaboration with the Bua Noi Subdistrict community; and 3) compare cumulative blood sugar levels within groups before and after the intervention. The sample consisted of type 2 diabetes patients with uncontrolled blood sugar levels at Ban Phan Lam Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital, Kanthararom District, Sisaket Province. The experimental group received a 12-week program. The research instrument used questionnaires administered twice before and after the intervention, from November 2024 to February 2025. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, presenting percentages, means, standard deviations, medians, and independent t-tests.

The results revealed that before the intervention, the experimental and comparison groups had a statistically significant difference in knowledge scores. After the intervention, the difference in knowledge scores was statistically significant at the 0.05 level (p-value <0.001). The experimental group had a significantly higher average knowledge score. The mean difference in fingertip blood sugar levels was 1.13 times higher than the comparison group. Before the experiment, the experimental and comparison groups showed a statistically insignificant difference in the mean fingertip blood sugar levels of the diabetic patients. After the experiment, the difference in the mean fingertip blood sugar levels of the diabetic patients was statistically significant at the 0.05 level (p-value <0.001). The experimental group showed a decrease in the mean fingertip blood sugar score of the diabetic patients.

Involving the community in close care, providing encouragement and support, and providing knowledge on the process and techniques of participation, empowers diabetic patients to practice self-care, treat themselves, and take medication for a long period of time. The activities, which involve the community directly and indirectly, are integrated into the education program, creating guidelines through collaborative design, and supporting each other within families through village health volunteers and community leaders. Furthermore, the public health service system is used to strengthen morale and encourage proper behavior.