TEACHING THE NEWLY-DIAGNOSED DIABETIC PATIENT

Tools and Strategies for Success

Marjorie ReillySenior PracticumSUNY Delhi NURS 403, 11070Cheryle Levitt

DIABETES STATISTICS

In the United States

There are over 25 million people with diabetes (diagnosed)

There are over 79 presently undiagnosed people with diabetes

Diabetes and its costs over 218 billion dollars annually

YOUR PATIENTS Over 40 percent of newly-diagnosed

diabetics are over 65 years old.

One in five Americans read below the fifth grade level.

Many illiterate individuals have either normal, or above normal intelligence.

These are among the many challenges one may face in patient teaching,

UNDERSTANDING YOUR PATIENT Anxiety with initial diagnosis

May have misconceptions influencing anxiety

Assess what your patient already knows

Begin teaching immediately

LEARNING STYLES

Ask your patient about their learning preferences

Use teach-back methods in order to assess understanding

LEARNING STYLES CONT…Watch for verbal and non-verbal

clues

Visual learners:

- phrases like “ I see what you’re saying”

- May look up and away when listening or considering something new.

LEARNING STYLES CONT…Watch for verbal and non-verbal

clues

Auditory learners:

- phrases like “ Doesn’t sound right to me, or I hear what you’re saying”

- May look off to the side when listening or considering something new.

LEARNING STYLES CONT…Watch for verbal and non-verbal

clues

Kinesthetic learners

- Phrases like “Just doesn’t feel right” - Used hand gestures when speaking - May look down when listening or

considering something new.

TEACHING THE VISUAL LEARNER

Use pictures, graphs, videos and other visual aids

Flash cards

Encourage patient to take notes

Conversation Map

Use visual tools like this graphic when teaching injection sites

TEACHING THE AUDITORY LEARNER

Teach the patient with a verbal narrative. Audio/Visual presentations.

Read printed materials aloud.

Group (family) instruction with discussion and brainstorming.

Question and answer format.

LOOK FOR VIDEO PRESENTATIONS WITH GRAPHIC DEMONSTRATIONS National Diabetes Education Program:

Healthy Eating with Diabetes:

http://ndep.nih.gov/resources/ResourceDetail.aspx?ResId=380

VIDEOS WITH TRANSCRIPTS

Format with both video and transcript.

Graphic representations

Good for all learners, especially visual and auditory.

How Diabetes Affects Your Blood Sugar:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-sugar/MM00641

TEACHING THE TACTILE/KINESTHETIC LEARNER

Quiet, uncluttered environment.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrAIGLkSMls Well-rested, snack if needed for energy.

Take frequent breaks (every 20 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrAIGLkSMls

TEACHING THE TACTILE/KINESTHETIC LEARNER

Demonstration with models that can be touched.

Allow patient to manipulate supplies, especially with insulin administration .

Use a multi-sensory approach (seeing, touching, doing).

SOCIAL MEDIA

Encourage use of these tools:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/AmericanDiabetesAssociation

SOCIAL MEDIA CONT…

Encourage use of these tools:

American Diabetes Association Message Boards: http://community.diabetes.org/

CULTURALLY SPECIFIC RESOURCES

The American Diabetes Association

Resources and community tailored to specific target groups:

African American Latino Asian/Pacific Islander Native American

http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/programs/

REALITYProblems

Time Constraints Limited Resources Health Literacy Limitations

Solutions Start Patient Teaching Early Be Creative Enlist Family Members Use “Teach Back” method to ensure

understanding

ReferencesAmerican Diabetes Association. (2012a). Diabetes statistics. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes- statistics/Curry, A. (2011). Visual aids for diabetes education: Can teaching tools help people retain their lessons? Retrieved from http://forecast. diabetes.org/magazine/your-ada/visual-aids-diabetes-educationDille, B. (2007). Learning style Inventory. Retrieved from http://www.odessa.edu/dept/govt/dille/brian/courses/ 1100Orientation/LearningStyleInventory_survey.pdfHuizinga, M., Elasy, T., Wallston, K., Cavanaugh, K., Davis, D., Gregory, R., Fuchs, L., … Rothman, R. (2008). DNT sample questions. Retrieved from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472- 6963/8/96/figure/F2?highres=yMayo Clinic. (2011). Video: How diabetes affects your blood sugar. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood- sugar/MM00641

ReferencesNational Diabetes Education Program. (n.d.). Healthy eating with diabetes. Retrieved from http://ndep.nih.gov/resources/ ResourceDetail.aspx?ResId=380Redman, B. (2007). The practice of patient education: A case study approach (10th ed.). St. Louis, MI: Mosby-Elsevier.Smart Nurse. (2011). Locating subcutaneous injection sites. Retrieved fromhttp://smart-nurse.blogspot.com/2011/05/locating- Subcutaneous-injection-sites.html Smeltzer, S., Bare, B., Hinkle, J., & Cheever, K. (2008). Brunner & suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: LippincottWilliams & Wilkins.