Diabetes Education Study Group

This year there was no single theme to the Workshop. Instead we tried to provide sessions which would introduce members to education methods they may not be using; to encourage self-reflection about our own skills and attitudes; and consider what people with diabetes may want from their health care professionals (HCPs)

The workshop on the first day was facilitated professionally and called: “Managing Difficult People”, which was more theoretical than practical but informed us about our own negotiating styles, which we use everyday with our patients, colleagues, family and friends. When do you use: avoidance; accommodation; assertiveness; compromise; or collaboration? In the evening Anne-Marie Felton (Chair of FEND) spoke about the United Nations on Diabetes; and Dr. Evalda Danyte (Lithuania), Dr. Una Gailisa (Latvia) and Dr Aniko Somogyi (Hungary) gave interesting presentations on T.P.E. in their workplaces.

On the second day we worked on the importance of a Structured Group Education and on the Psychological Aspects of Diabetes (like its importance, motivation, psychotherapy, etc).

The third day was dedicated to the patient’s point of view, needs and demands. There was surprising agreement between the agendas produced by 3 groups, looking from the direction of what we think patients need; what HCPs want to provide; and what patients actually want. For them the strongest word was “support”.

In the afternoon the sun was shining and Winchester and the Cathedral looked beautiful. The city really supported me in saying “Thank you” to old friends for their professional engagement through DESG and gave an opportunity to welcome new friends to the unique experience of a DESG Workshop.

 Dr. Andrew Brooks (Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, UK)

 DESG Vice-President.