Implementasi Diabetes Self-Management Education untuk Meningkatkan Pengetahuan Pasien Diabetes Mellitus Implementation of Diabetes Self-Management Education to Improve Knowledge among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus management depends not only on medical treatment but also on patients’ ability to understand and manage their condition in daily life. Health education programs at primary healthcare facilities, such as community health centers (Puskesmas), have been widely implemented; however, their delivery has not been fully structured, and their outcomes have rarely been evaluated systematically. This community service program aimed to improve patients’ knowledge by implementing Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) at Palakka Community Health Center, Bone Regency. The program consisted of three components and four stages: preparation through needs assessment and development of educational materials based on identified needs; implementation through pre-testing and structured educational sessions; and evaluation through post-testing. A total of 32 patients with diabetes mellitus participated in all program activities. The mean knowledge score before the educational intervention was 11.2 out of 20 (56%) and increased to 16.4 out of 20 (82%) after the intervention, representing an improvement of 5.2 points. These findings indicate a trend toward short-term improvement in patients’ knowledge following the educational program. This increase in knowledge may serve as an initial step in supporting diabetes management at the primary healthcare level.