Effect of a health education program on type 2 diabetes prevention among high school teachers in Erbil, Iraq.
In Erbil, Iraq, the rising burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) calls for effective preventive strategies targeting modifiable behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a structured health education program on preventive practices and metabolic improvements related to T2D among high school teachers in Erbil.
This quasi-experimental study was conducted from October 27, 2024, to June 1, 2025, in five major high schools in Erbil, using purposive sampling method. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics and 15 preventive practices and metabolic improvement related to T2D. Paired sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, post-hoc Tukey tests, effect sizes, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
A total of 102 high school teachers participated in the study, equally divided into intervention and control groups (n = 51 each). The health education program led to significant improvements in preventive practices and metabolic improvement, with the overall practice score increasing from 45.08 to 59.58 in the intervention group (p < .001), while no significant change was observed in the control group (44.54 to 44.35, p = 0.677). Marked behavioral gains included increased HbA1c testing, physical activity, label reading, and reduced sugary beverage intake. Clinical outcomes such as BMI, fasting glucose, and lipid profile also improved significantly post-intervention. A very large effect size was observed for the overall practice score (d = 1.94). Regression analysis identified group assignment, younger age, female gender, and family history of diabetes as significant predictors of improved post-intervention scores.
Structured quality health education was associated with significant improvement in preventive practices and metabolic risk reduction measures that translated to favorable clinical outcomes among high school teachers. Policymakers and healthcare providers should implement targeted educational programs in schools to enhance health literacy, support behavioral change, and reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes in at-risk populations.
This quasi-experimental study was conducted from October 27, 2024, to June 1, 2025, in five major high schools in Erbil, using purposive sampling method. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics and 15 preventive practices and metabolic improvement related to T2D. Paired sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, post-hoc Tukey tests, effect sizes, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
A total of 102 high school teachers participated in the study, equally divided into intervention and control groups (n = 51 each). The health education program led to significant improvements in preventive practices and metabolic improvement, with the overall practice score increasing from 45.08 to 59.58 in the intervention group (p < .001), while no significant change was observed in the control group (44.54 to 44.35, p = 0.677). Marked behavioral gains included increased HbA1c testing, physical activity, label reading, and reduced sugary beverage intake. Clinical outcomes such as BMI, fasting glucose, and lipid profile also improved significantly post-intervention. A very large effect size was observed for the overall practice score (d = 1.94). Regression analysis identified group assignment, younger age, female gender, and family history of diabetes as significant predictors of improved post-intervention scores.
Structured quality health education was associated with significant improvement in preventive practices and metabolic risk reduction measures that translated to favorable clinical outcomes among high school teachers. Policymakers and healthcare providers should implement targeted educational programs in schools to enhance health literacy, support behavioral change, and reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes in at-risk populations.