Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

SELF-MANAGEMENT EDUCATION & SUPPORT: PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT| 11-39

Table 10. Advantages and disadvantages of values clarification Values clarification Advantage

Disadvantage

A group discussion or exercise that involves

Encourages active participation.

May trigger emotional reaction (e.g. anger, resistance). May help learners act in accordance with chosen traditional values and attitudes.

•

•

Useful in exploring moral or ethical issues. Enhances self-esteem when values are validated. Encourages a sense of community/team among participants.

•

making a decision about one’s own ethical or moral values.

•

•

•

Is best done in small groups.

•

Teaching methods: Psycho-educational programs The teaching methods discussed above (lecture; self-learning manuals; technological systems; demonstration and practice; group discussion; brainstorming; and values clarification) are education or pedagogical terms; how do they fit with the new psycho-behavioural SME and SMS terminology? The marriage of education and psychological approaches is a new reality for diabetes self management educators. You will recall the previous discussion of the term cognitive behavioural, now being used to describe an umbrella of educational and psychological interventions using a therapeutic alliance to change emotional, cognitive and behavioural function (12). These interventions belong to both education and psychology fields and need to be part of effective SME and SMS experiences. An example of a psycho-educational program is coping-skills training (focus on changing the thoughts and feelings that impact behaviour) incorporated within a diabetes SME program (48). Solution –focused therapy is currently being used for its effectiveness in empowering patients to find the solutions now that will help them to deal with their health challenges (49). Brief action planning can also be considered in this category, as well as Motivational Interviewing, which can be useful in the assessment stage, as well as a stand alone counselling technique (34). These psychological-educational techniques are within the scope of diabetes self-management practice.