Aim

The X-PERT Programme is a specially designed patient education programme to provide people with the confidence, knowledge and skills necessary to self manage their diabetes.

Methodology

Participants with Type 2 diabetes and a supportive family member or friend are invited to attend six, 2 ½ hour sessions of empowering education, discovery learning, demonstration and discussion. Each participant gets a blank copy of the Diabetes Health Profile which they themselves complete to monitor their own progress by self-testing and obtaining the relevant information from their diabetes care team.

All trainers Have attended a ‘Train the Trainers’ course before delivering the programme.

Participants are invited to an annual update module to reinforce the main messages from the X-PERT programme, update on the latest information (such as clinical guidelines, medications, evidence based literature), review progress with the lifestyle experiment and support participants in continued self management and goal setting.

Results

Number of X-pert programmes run in the last 15 months

Mean programme evaluation score (4-12) 11.6 (96.7%)

Number of attendees 56

Mean number of attendees per programme 9.3

Mean number of sessions attended 4.6

Total number of sessions attended 257

Total CNA sessions 22

Total DNA sessions 56

Total percentage that attended 1 session 94.6%

Total percentage who attended >=4 sessions 76.8%

Baseline 6 weeks 1 year

Patient Empowerment Score (1-5) 3.7 4.2 4.2

Patient Empowerment Score 13.5% 13.5%

Percentage Baseline 1 year post course

Mean HbA1c(%) 7.8 5.7

Mean Weight (Kg) 92.5 72.5

Mean BMI(Kg/m2) 32.9 26.5

Blood pressure systolic(mmHg) 138.3 124

Blood Pressure diastolic(mmHg) 76.6 69.8

Mean waist (cm) 111.8 90.7

Mean total chol (mmol/L) 4.1 3.8

Mean LDL (mmol/L) 2 1.7

Mean HDL (mmol/L) 1.4 1.5

Mean Triglycerides (mmol/L) 1.7 1.3

Evaluation

Ongoing audit, evaluation and quality assurance.

Reflection

The X-pert programme has improved patient’s confidence, knowledge and skills with regards to diabetes. The programme has enabled participants to positively self manage their diabetes which has resulted in reductions in HbA1c, weight, BMI, Blood pressure, waist circumference and lipid levels.

Further action

To role out the programme to all areas across Carmarthenshire to enable all people with type 2 diabetes to have access.

To secure funding to support the programme long term and to continue to evaluate, audit and promote the programme.

Annual updates for all participants

Continued quality assurance for all staff running the programme.