a randomized controlled trial to compare the cost-effectiveness of group versus weblog-telecommunication nutrition education program on glycemic, lipids, and anthropometric control of patients with type- 2 diabetes: study protocol

Background: education is the most important principle inmanaging diseases, especially diabetes. on the other hand,economic burden of diabetes is another important issue. thus,this study aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of group vs.weblog-telecommunication (web-tel) nutrition education onglycemic, lipids, blood pressure, and anthropometric indices oftype-2 diabetic patients.methods: this randomized controlled trial study will beconducted in health centers of bushehr city. one-hundred fivepatients with type 2 diabetes will randomly be assigned to oneof the three groups: group education, web-tel education, andthe control. the study has two phases. the first phase (or preinterventionphase) will last two weeks and the second phase (orintervention phase) 12 weeks. in group education, in additionto the usual cares, the participants will receive group seminarsmonthly (3 seminars in total), while the web-tel group willreceive education via website monthly (3 sessions in total) besidesthe usual cares, and the control group will receive the usualcares. the outcomes include glycemic, lipids, blood pressure,and anthropometric indices. also, the cost of each arm will becalculated.conclusion: the present study will compare the two methods ofnutrition education to determine the more cost-effective nutritioneducation method for patients with diabetes which can help themin self-care and costs reduction.