'Learning Diabetes'--a multi-media learning package for patients, carers and professionals to improve chronic disease management.

A multi-media program for those with insulin and non-insulin dependent diabetes, and for their carers, has been produced. It is delivered on CDROM and contains an extensive amount of very high quality generated video of patients using short clips (maximum 2 min) totalling 2.5 h in 240 files using MPEG compression. The video is combined with a wide range of graphic based activities engaging the user in fully interactive processes and allowing them to obtain extensive understanding of the disease and to relate to attitudes and perceptions about it from those with the same condition. The program is robust and appears to meet the educational needs for its extent of interactivity, degree of choice for the user and provision of information based on real patient experience. It is easily used and modified to meet users of different socio-cultural needs and can be translated into different languages. It offers the opportunity not only for increased learning and improved self-management of those with diabetes, but also greater understanding by those who care for them, both professional and non-professional. Using the same framework, programs are being developed for other chronic diseases including asthma and hypertension.