Development of the “Mae Phrom School” Program for Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus at Mahasarakham Hospital

Abstract

This research and development (R&D) study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of the “Mae Phrom School” program for pregnant women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) at Mahasarakham Hospital. The sample consisted of 10 professional nurses caring for these patients and 20 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM. The research instruments comprised: (1) a general information questionnaire; (2) a data and outcome recording form; (3) a pre- and post-program self-care behavior assessment; and (4) a satisfaction questionnaire on program implementation. Data were collected from October 2023 to June 2024 and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and a paired t-test.

In the situation-analysis phase, the results revealed that pregnant women with GDM lacked understanding of the disease and of carbohydrate-containing foods, as well as the skills needed to control their glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to the target level. A model aligned with the identified problems and the real-world context was subsequently developed, comprising: (1) in-depth health education; (2) the “Mae Phrom Bag” innovation; (3) an individual counseling plan; and (4) a communication innovation via Line Official Account (Line OA).

After participation in the program, the mean self-care behavior score of the pregnant women increased, and the participating nurses reported the highest level of satisfaction with the program. The developed model was well suited to the Isaan cultural context and effectively enhanced participants’ self-management ability, enabling them to better manage their carbohydrate intake and improve their blood glucose control. Its implementation should be expanded to other healthcare service units.