Podcast vs. Pamphlet; Which One Is More Effective in Self-care Training Program of Diabetic Patients?

Background and Purpose: Self-care can help patients with diabetes to reduce complications of the disease. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of diabetes self-care educational programs through tow podcast and pamphlet methods. Material and Methods: The present study was quasi-experimental research conducted in Tehran Aboozar Diabetes Center (2014).  90 patients with type II diabetes were selected and randomly divided into two groups of podcast training group (n = 45) and pamphlet group (n = 45). In both groups, the data were collected using the researcher-made questionnaire. In the podcast group, five audio training files were transferred via Bluetooth to the patients’ mobiles, and the pamphlet group was given an educational pamphlet with a quite similar content. After 12 weeks, the two groups were assessed by the same questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS Software, version 16, through statistical t-test at a significance level of P ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean of adherence to exercise programs, drug treatment, and diabetic diet were 15.53, 23.92, and 48.20, respectively, for Podcast Group, while these values were 14.48, 24.04, and 46.54 for Pamphlet Group, respectively. After the intervention, the mean of adherence to exercise programs, drug treatment, and diabetic diet increased as follows: Podcast group (20.00, 23.95 and 57.12); Pamphlet group (21.26, 25.40 and 55.59). Conclusion: The use of podcast such as pamphlet is recommended to increase the adherence rate of self-care behaviors of diabetic patients. Due to the great satisfaction of patients with podcast, the method is suggested as an effective, simple, and attractive method to control diabetes and compliance with care practices.