Effects of an Experiential Learning Program on Knowledge and Practices toward Fingertip Capillary Blood Glucose Monitoring among Village Health Volunteers

Abstract

The research was a quasi-experimental two-group pretest-posttest design attempted to assess an effect of the experiential learning program toward knowledge and practices of a fingertip capillary blood glucose monitoring by village health volunteers (VHVs) in Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province. The study VHV selection was a purposive sampling method for a total of 36 persons divided into 18 persons and taken to each of the experimental and control groups. The data collection was carried out from April to May 2022. The research instruments comprised (1) an experiential learning program, (2) contents slides and pictures with subtitles, (3) videos, (4) practical kits for capillary blood glucose monitors, (5) an instruction on capillary blood glucose monitors, and (6) a record form for blood glucose levels tested by the blood glucose monitor. The data collection instruments comprised (1) a questionnaire of knowing how to test blood glucose by capillary blood glucose monitors for diabetes screening and (2) a practical observation form of the blood test kit. Data analyses relied on descriptive statistics, chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, paired t-test, and independent t-test to compare the data between the groups. Results found the experimental group passed the practice of blood glucose test up to 83.30%. The average score of knowledge on blood glucose test using capillary blood glucose monitors (Mean=12.39, S.D.=2.03) was statistically significantly higher than that per se before applying the program, and it was statistically significantly higher than that in the control group (Mean=10.50, S.D.=1.58). Regarding the research could recommend to use the results as guide lines for nurse practitioners and medical staff in the community from this experiential learning program to enhance VHVs’ experiences.