The Effect of Peer's Support on Knowledge level of Type II Diabetic Patients

The lack of sufficient knowledge and poor performance diabetic patients, cause serious complications. Promoting knowledge level is the best way to control this disease. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of peer support on knowledge level in type II diabetic patients. This experimental study was performed by choosing 80 type II diabetic patients relative Stratified randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. Peers held down ten training - supportive sessions for experimental group during three following months. Tool measure knowledge level was a questionnaire pre-made, that was used after confirming the validity by content validity and test retest reliability (r=0/85). Data was collected through interviews at baseline and 3 months after intervention in both groups. Finally, data analyzed through Chi-square, paired T, and independent T tests. Chi-square test showed that both experimental and control groups were similar in demographic characteristics. The findings of independent t test did not show any significant difference between the mean score knowledge level of two groups before intervention (p=0.59). While a statistically significant difference was observed after intervention (p<0.01).Also Paired t test showed a significant increase in knowledge level in experimental group after intervention (p<0.01). Whereas the same test showed no statistically significant difference in control groups (p=0.07). The results showed that can peers support be used to complement formal health workers in the community, as a method of support - instructional effective and affordable, in order to improve the knowledge level and self-management behaviors Patient.