Effects of training on comprehensive control and treatment of diabetes among community health workers

Objective To evaluate the effects of training on comprehensive control and treatment of diabetes and ability of diabetes management and service among community health workers (CHWs)and to provide reference for improving diabetes patient management at grassroots level.Methods A two-day training course focusing on diabetes comprehensive control and prevention was delivered to 500 CHWs randomly selected from centers for disease control and prevention(CDCs),community health centers,and general hospitals at district or county levels in Beijing,Shanghai,and Chongqing city and Guangdong and Zhejiang province.The efficacy of the training was evaluated pre/post the training course through a questionnaire survey.Results There was a statistically significant increase in the score of diabetes related knowledge (74.29±15.63 vs 85.84±11.50,P<0.05).There were increases in the ratio of general knowledge of epidemic (95.5% vs 97.7%)and risk factors of diabetes (98.1% vs 97.3%)after the training.Awareness rate of tobacco control policies increased significantly from 12.6% to 20.6% (P<0.05).There were 72.8% of the CHWs knowing insulin injection skills,significantly higher than 54.1% before the training (P<0.05)and 95.4% of the CHWs expressed their satisfaction with the training course.Conclusion CHWs' diabetes management capability was improved after the training.CHWs from CDCs and community health centers have an advantage over those from general hospitals to deliver diabetes management at community level.