Health education: educational intervention assessment with diabetic patients based on social cognitive theory

Abstract The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of an educational intervention on the knowledge and biochemical and anthropometric parameters of diabetic patients of a unit of the Family Health Strategy in Israelândia, GO, Brazil. A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 83 patients registered in 2015. They were allocated to intervention (GI; n = 38) and control (GC; n = 38) groups. GI participated in an educational intervention based on the Social Cognitive Theory; GC participated in activities developed there. The results obtained by a questionnaire pointed to an improvement in knowledge for GI (p <0.001). Concerning the biochemical/anthropometric parameters, GI presented a decrease in HbA1c (p <0.001), capillary glycemia (p <0.001), BMI (p <0.001) and waist circumference (p <0.001); the reverse occurred to GC. Several aspects were improved through educational interventions that considered the importance of the self-efficacy construct for knowledge empowerment and control of diabetes mellitus.