Abstract

Introduction: Ocular complications are the most important impediment that result from uncontrolled blood sugar among diabetics. For eye care, patients need to be educated on how to control their blood sugar and increase their behavioral preventive skills. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of educational program based on the BASNEF (Belief, Attitude, Subjective Norm, Enabling Factors) Model on Diabetic (Type II) eye care in Nader Kazemi Clinic, Shiraz City. Material and methods: This is a perspective and quasi-experimental intervention study, the research population being type II diabetics, between the ages of 40 and 65 years, having had diabetes for over 5 years. During the first visit of the subjects' eyes exam, 68 of 215 patients, diagnosed with ocular complications, were eliminated from the study. Finally, 100 diabetic patients, fufilling the inclusion criteria, participated in the study, and were randomly divided to two groups, experimental and controls. The instruments for data collecting were a questionnaire established based on the BASNEF Model, a check list related to patient practice on the basis of self reporting, a check list for recording the patients' HbA₁c and FBS levels, and the ophthalmologist's eyes exam report as well. All groups completed the questionnaires and check lists, and ophthalmic eye examination results were documented before and three months after intervention. The patients of the experimental group participated in 6 educational session classes during the one month of intervention and again two months after, with 2 session meeting classes as the follow up of intervention. The data were collected and analyzed by SPSS computer software. Results: Our findings indicated that mean scores of BASNEF Model variables (beliefs, attitudes, subjective norm, enabling factors) were significantly increased in the experimental group compared to the controls after intervention. Also, behavioral eye care, rate of HbA₁c (before intervention as 8.65% after three months 7.47%) and FBS levels (before intervention 207.08, after three months 124.2) improved significantly among the experimental group, compared to control group. Conclusion: Applying the BASNEF Model is very effective for developing an educational program for diabetics, in order to control their blood sugar and enhancing behavioral eye care. Besides such programs, follow up education on controlling and monitoring is highly recommended.