Patient education is important among diabetic patients as it promotes effective use of medication and adherence to dietary and exercise recommendations. The rapid rise in the prevalence of diabetes has been associated with unhealthy dietary patterns and inadequate physical exercise. Foot ulceration and amputations contribute to increased risks of morbidity. The article, “Education and Implementation Evidence-Based Nursing (EBN) Practice for Diabetic Patients” by Shokoh Varaei and her colleagues is a quasi-experimental that addresses the need to provide patient education to diabetics.
Foot ulceration is among the leading causes of death among diabetic patients. Varaei and her colleagues addressed the importance of patient education. Nurses’ performance in providing care for diabetic patients was assessed against diabetic patient outcomes (Varaei, Salsali, Cheraghi, Tehrani, & Heshmat, 2013). The outcome of nurses’ attitude and knowledge was assessed before and after the education intervention provided and compared to past studies (Tabatabei-Malazy, Tehrani, Madani, Heshmat, & Larijani, 2011). The research was intended to prove that the education of nurses on evidence-based nursing could be used to improve the knowledge and care practices given to diabetic patients by nurses.
The article is a true quasi-experimental study because it was conducted using a before and after approach. All the nurses included in the study were assessed before and after the intervention. The researchers used a quasi-experimental quantitative design. The research was conducted among nurses working in an endocrinology ward who were selected and taught through different EBN workshops. The sample of nurses used in the study included all the nurses working in a specific ward. This sample was reflective of the entire nursing population because it included nurses working in an inpatient setting. Baccalaureate nurses were also included in the population (Varaei, Salsali, Cheraghi, Tehrani, & Heshmat, 2013). The sample size was effective for the study as it consisted of all the nurses in the endocrine unit in an educational hospital.
The sampling risk in this study was based on use of nurses from different units who were not trained in managing diabetic complications such as foot ulcerations or diabetic education provision. The author acknowledges the inclusion of baccalaureate nurses in the sample criteria to ensure diversity in the endocrine nurses selected for this research. The variables measured in the research were nursing education and improvement in patient care (Varaei, Salsali, Cheraghi, Tehrani, & Heshmat, 2013). Data collection methods used was a 66-question questionnaire.
This research was effective in assessing nursing intervention practices for diabetic patients and methods that could be used to improve nursing care. The knowledge, skills, and practices were improved after EBN education. The researchers in this study conducted an effective nursing study.
References
Tabatabei-Malazy, O., Tehrani, M. R., Madani, S. P., Heshmat, R., & Larijani, B. (2011). The prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and related factors. Iran Journal of Public Health, 40:55-62. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3481654/
Varaei, S., Salsali, M., Cheraghi, M. A., Tehrani, M. R., & Heshmat, R. (2013). Education and implementing evidence-based nursing practice for diabetic patients. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 18(3), 251-257. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3748547/.