Family inclusion in diabetes education: a nationwide survey of diabetes educators.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions about family inclusion and support in diabetes self-management education.

Methods: Surveys were mailed to certified diabetes educators (CDEs) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a return of 225 surveys. Descriptive and inferential statistics (eg, t test, analysis of variance, correlation, and chi-square) were used as appropriate.

Results: Levels of importance placed on family involvement in diabetes education were significantly related to the emphasis placed on family during CDEs' formal or preprofessional education. CDEs' formal exposure to family theory influenced perceptions of their knowledge about family and the frequency that family support was emphasized in self-management activities but was unrelated to perceptions of their skillfulness in educating family members. Diabetes educators' personal values of family support were significantly related to how frequently family members were asked to participate in formal diabetes education classes. CDEs perceived that they were meeting individuals' self-management needs significantly better than those of families. Regional differences did not appear to be a factor in how CDEs incorporated family in diabetes education.

Conclusions: Diabetes educators without formal exposure to family theory may be overestimating how much they emphasize family support in diabetes education. Increasing formal education about the importance of family involvement in self-management behaviors could positively affect individual diabetes self-management outcomes.