Shanghai Diabetic Patients In Community Health Communication Mode

PrefaceAs a chronic non-communicable disease,diabetes has brought heavy burden to human society and also reduces the life quality of whom with it directly.With the global aging process,the number of diabetes patients is keeping growing,so the comprehensive management of diabetes in communities has become a key intervention in the heath promotion programme on diabetes even in area of non-communicable diseases' prevention.The patterns of health communication in different levels have different characters,using them comprehensively has been the common sense in health educators,and the first step to use them comprehensively is the right evaluation of the health needs in the communities.Our research uses qualitative combined with quantitative methods to investigate the diabetes patients in a community(in Shanghai,China),aims to evaluate the needs of health communications in different patterns,then to offer some advice to better management of diabetes in communities.Object236 diabetes patients from a community in Shanghai,112 male and 124 female among of them,ages from 30-80 years old.MethodsAccording to the aim of the research,we composed the questionnaire and interview-outline,with the following:the patterns of the health communication in communities;diabetes patients' responses,needs and effects to these different patterns.Our research uses qualitative combined with quantitative methods to investigate the diabetes patients in a community.236 diabetes patients were asked to finish questionnaires(on telephone or face to face),194 valid questionnaires were received.4 focus group discussions were made with 8 to 10 participants each,38 patients were participated.Data analysisQuantitative data was analysis by SPSS 11.5,qualitative data was collect by manual and recorder,then data was code,summed up and sorted.At last,the main points and lesser ones were listed.ResultsThe most popular health communication patterns in communities are:health education by doctors,Diabetes' club and lectures on diabetes.Communication in inter-personnel level:health education by doctors is the most popular pattern in communities,however,is not well satisfied.The participants revealed the main reasons are:doctors' busy work and tight schedule;patients don't know how to ask;not every general practitioner in communities can offer effect advice.Communication in group or organizational level:Diabetes' club has positive affect in promoting self-management in diabetes,sharing experience and mutual support.It's worth while to summarize,develop and popularize.Mass communication level:mass media has got quite large audience,it's a potential platform for health education,although needs more regulation.ConclusionTo meet the great needs from diabetes,general practitioner in communities should improve their own health consulting abilities.Made the active volunteer in Diabetes' club be the opinion leader,then we can devolve the health potential in communities.Mass media should turn to be a good platform for health education with enhanced regulation and lightened core health information.People's health literacy and media literacy should be improved,"my own health,my own responsibility".Health educator should use different communication materials and rising new media wisely.Construct social support network and build healthy community for diabetes.