Effectiveness of an Educational Package for Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle Based on Iranian and Islamic Culture on the Quality of Life and Treatment Adherence of Patients with Diabetes

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an educational package designed to promote a healthy lifestyle based on Iranian and Islamic culture on the quality of life and treatment adherence of patients with diabetes. This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test and post-test design with an experimental group and a control group, including a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population consisted of diabetic patients referred to a psychotherapy center in District 5 of Tehran. A purposive sample of 30 patients was selected, with 15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group. The instruments used were the Diabetes Treatment Adherence Questionnaire and the WHO-QOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF). The educational package included 10 sessions covering topics such as healthy nutrition, physical activity, stress management, medical care, religious teachings, and family and social relationships. Descriptive findings indicated that the experimental group showed significant improvements in quality of life and treatment adherence scores in the post-test and follow-up stages, while the control group did not show notable changes. Repeated measures ANOVA results revealed that the educational package significantly improved the quality of life and treatment adherence in patients with diabetes (p<0.000). The educational package for promoting a healthy lifestyle based on Iranian and Islamic culture successfully improved the quality of life and treatment adherence in patients with diabetes. These results suggest that culturally tailored educational programs can play a vital role in better managing chronic diseases such as diabetes. It is recommended that health policymakers adopt these educational packages to enhance the health of diabetic patients.