Role of informal care providers in home based long term care in diabetes mellitus at Kaiwara Primary Health Center area, Karnataka, India

ObjectiveTo find the prevalence of diabetics, identify informal care providers for them in Kaiwara Primary Health Center (PHC) area, assess the level of knowledge and skills of an informal care provider in home based long term care and improve the level of knowledge and skill of the informal care provider through a structured training capsule.MethodsA cross sectional and an interventional study was conducted on diabetics and their informal care providers in Kaiwara PHC area. Data were collected using pre-tested, structured questionnaire by an interview method. A structured training capsule was developed and implemented. Evaluation of the knowledge and skills was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the training. Student's paired/unpaired ‘t’ tests and correlation analysis were done.ResultsImprovement scores were calculated by subtracting the pre-evaluation scores from the post-evaluation scores. The mean improvement scores was (2.66±0.32) and was statistically significant (P <0.001). No significant difference in mean values was found in the knowledge and skills scores in relation to the socio-demographic variables in the study.ConclusionsKnowledge and skills component of the informal care provider in home based care of diabetes could be perceived as a “felt need”.