Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

11-12 | CHAPTER 11

STEP 1: ASSESSMENT

Collaboratively identify needs In a compliance model, assessment is a provider responsibility. In a true empowerment framework, it is a collaborative, patient-centered approach. The goal is for the person to: • Identify his or her own issues and problems important to them. • Collaboratively explore resources, barriers. • Explore and develop confidence in addressing them. Educators need to help individuals identify their problem, stage of readiness, resources etc. so that both patient and educator can collaborate on an effective, individualized SME and SMS plan. Using the principles of empowerment, the educator helps the individual identify the following:

Intention to change • Is the person intending/ready to make a change? • If so, when? o Tool: TTM

Decisional balance • How important is the new behaviour to the person? • What are the benefits to the person (the pros) and the possible barriers (cons) related to the behaviour? • The person may consider the specifics of his/her social support system and home environment that inhibit or enhance effective self-management. • How do other networks of people (partner, family, community) collectively affect the patient’s ability to successfully manage their disease. o Tool: Pro and con list