HEALTH EDUCATION STRATEGIES ON DIET AND EXERCISE FOR PERSONS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN DUMAGUETE CITY: A PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the health education needs on diet and physical activity of persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus managed by the Dumaguete City Health Office. Furthermore, it aimed to allow participants to collaboratively identify, develop, and implement health education strategies that enabled them to comply with the prescribed diet and physical activity. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the health education strategies was also done. Methods: This study utilized qualitative research design using participatory action research. The participants included 17 male and female clients at the Dumaguete City Health Office, medically diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the last five years, with or without comorbidities, aged 34-77 years old, able to speak, read, and understand the Visayan and English languages, reports inability to perform or follow regular diet and physical activity prescribed. Participants were recruited through a referral from the medical practitioner responsible for caring for these persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was used to collect data on the participants' health education needs and health education strategies to address the health education needs. The data then analyzed narratives using the Braun and Clarke Thematic Analysis. Another FGD was done to evaluate the teaching strategies' effectiveness after the health education sessions. Results: The findings generated three themes. Theme 1: identified health education needs; the participants wanted to have guidelines on diet and physical activity for them to follow. Theme 2: the variety of strategies needed for learning; the participants emphasized the importance of different teaching-learning strategies for learning diet management and appropriate physical activity. Lastly, in Theme 3: the effectiveness of the teaching strategies, the participants expressed that an individual's dietary habits through diet education and having learned and performed appropriate physical activities can positively impact persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Discussion: The findings in this study highlighted tailor-fit health education strategies that were made both by the researcher and participants for diet and physical activity. The education strategies were easy to follow by allowing the participants to comply with the lifestyle modifications on diet and physical activity and therefore considered effective.