Use of a course on self-control behavior techniques to increase adherence to prescribed frequency for self-monitoring blood glucose.

A 12-week behavioral change program consisting of a course on Self-Control Behavior Techniques, which used a self-study format and included self-management techniques, was developed and implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of the course and the behavioral change techniques in helping people with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus to increase adherence to the prescribed frequency for self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG). A two-group pretest-posttest experimental design was used (treatment n = 11, control n = 14). The treatment group achieved significantly higher posttest scores for the course. However, the control group achieved a significantly higher goal-adherence rate. The course was effective in teaching the knowledge and skills necessary for learning the techniques; the educational approach was an effective method for learning; and the application of the techniques resulted in an increase in frequency of SMBG but did not result in achievement of adherence to the goal for frequency of SMBG.