Table 3.
Outcome measures.
| Parameters | Cohorts | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TC | NE | RF | Comparisons between NE and RF cohorts at AFC | |||||||||||||||
| 6-months follow-up care | Tai Chi exercises only | Comparisons between BFC and AFC | Nurse-led follow-up care + educational programs + Tai Chi exercises | Comparisons between BFC and AFC | Comparisons between NE and TC cohorts at AFC | Routine health education and follow-up + Tai Chi exercises | Comparisons between BFC and AFC | Comparisons between RF and TC cohorts at AFC | ||||||||||
| Level | BFC | AFC | BFC | AFC | BFC | AFC | ||||||||||||
| Number of diabetic patients | 408 | 408 | P-value | Test value | 108 | 108 | P-value | Test value | P-value | Test value | 205 | 205 | P-value | Test value | P-value | Test value | P-value | Test value |
| *Knowledge regarding diabetes and its threat | 0.75 (1–0.5) | 0.75 (1–0.5) | >.05 (Friedman test) | 91,227 | 0.75 (1–0.5) | 2 (2–1.5) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 147.12 | <0.001 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 217.64 | 0.5 (1–0.5) | 1 (1.25–0.75) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 384.04 | <.001 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 50.621 | <.001 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 167.82 |
| †Anxiety | 62 (63–61) | 61 (62–60) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 37.334 | 62 (63–60) | 57 (58–55) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 155.91 | <0.001 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 261.8 | 62 (63–60) | 60 (61–58) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 97.008 | <.001 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 126.3 | <.001 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 304.26 |
| †Depression | 58 (60–56) | 58 (59–55) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 18.072 | 58 (60–55) | 56 (58–53) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 208 | <0.001 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 43.709 | 58 (61–55) | 57 (59–55) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 294 | <.001 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 18.537 | <.01 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 19.982 |
| Fasting blood sugar (mmol/L) | 5.8 (5.83–5.72) | 5.79 (5.82–5.72) | >.05 (Friedman test) | 12,676 | 5.8 (5.83–5.72) | 5.75 (5.8–5.7) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 216 | <0.001 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 42.23 | 5.8 (5.83–5.72) | 5.77 (5.81–5.72) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 300 | <.01 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 23.62 | <.05 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 35.663 |
| % HBA1c | 8 (8–7.5) | 8 (8–7.5) | .5 (Wilcoxon test) | N/A | 8 (8–7.5) | 7.75 (8–7.5) | >.05 (Friedman test) |
26 | 0.8729 (Mann-Whitney test) | 21,812 | 8 (8–7.5) | 8 (8–7.5) | >.05 (Friedman test) |
42 | .4031 (Mann-Whitney test) | 10,106 | .4502 (Mann-Whitney test) | 10,506 |
| ‡Self-care activities | 34 (35–33) | 34 (35–34) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 68.408 | 34 (35–33) | 35 (36–35) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 216 | <0.01 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 65.397 | 34 (35–33) | 35 (36–34) | <.001 (Friedman test) | 298 | <.01 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 60.115 | >.05 (Kruskal–Wallis’ test) | 51.185 |
Variables are depicted as medians with Q3–Q1 in parenthesis.
AFC = after 6 months of follow-up care, BFC = before the start of follow-up care.
All results were considered significant if the P-value was <.05.
Higher the score higher is knowledge regarding diabetes and its threat (total score is 6; evaluated by nursing staff; the institute has its questionnaires). Test value (Friedman statistic for Friedman test; Kruskal–Wallis’ statistics for Kruskal–Wallis’ test; Mann-Whitney statistics for Mann-Whitney test corrected for ties).
Zung Self-Rating Depression and Anxiety Scale (Zung Self-Rating Depression and Anxiety Scale; a score of ≥ 50 is considered as anxiety; a score of ≥ 50 is considered as depression).
The higher the score higher the self-care activity (maximum value 49).