Design and implementation of an Omaha System-based integrated nursing management model for patients with newly-diagnosed diabetes.

Abstract

The aim of the present paper was to establish and implement an integrated nursing management model for patients with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) based on the Omaha System and to explore its impact on blood glucose levels, quality of life, and diabetes knowledge in these patients. A non-randomized concurrent controlled trial was designed and the study was conducted in a hospital on the east coast of China between September 2013 and November 2015. We screened for patients with newly-diagnosed T2DM in 12 clinics of 3 comprehensive hospitals. A total of 367 patients with newly-diagnosed T2DM were assigned into two groups. In the intervention group, patients received routine outpatient care plus integrated nursing management; in the control group, only routine outpatient care was given. Changes in blood glucose levels, quality of life, and diabetes knowledge in both groups before the intervention and 6 months after the intervention were observed and compared. At the 6months, blood glucose levels, quality of life, and diabetes knowledge in the intervention group were significantly superior to those in the control group (all P<0.01). The integrated nursing management model was able to improve patients' glucose levels, quality of life, and diabetes knowledge.