[Efficiency evaluation of the diabetic education unit at the hospital in Algeciras]. / Evaluación de la efectividad de la unidad de educación diabetológica del hospital de Algeciras.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic Education is a basic part of treating Diabetes Mellitus and is intended to improve a patient's quality of life. An analysis was made of the effectiveness of a diabetic education program at the Algeciras Regional Hospital. METHODS: Results achieved by the Diabetic Education Unit were measured according to frequency of hospital visits. A parallel study was therefore carried out on the Unit's first 86 patients and an analysis made of the percentage of patients admitted as well as the period of hospitalization, four years before the Diabetic Program was carried out and four years later. RESULTS: The 20.7% rate of patients admitted four years before the program was reduced to 6.1% in the four following years (IC 95% of the difference between 0.055 and 0.170). A significant decrease (p < 0.001) was also observed in the period of hospitalization, before and after the program, which was quantified in 3.54 days/patient in four years (IC 95%: 1.02 to 5.56 days). CONCLUSIONS: The educational program reduced complications of the disease and improved quality of life.