The study examined the effect of physical interaction intervention on self-care practices among diabetic patients in a state hospital in Oyo State. The study investigated the baseline level, post- intervention level and 6th week follow-up of self-care practices among diabetic patients exposed to physical-interaction intervention. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design comprising of only an experimental group on physical interaction. Thirty diabetic patients were selected through a multi-staged sampling procedure from Adeoyo state hospital in Oyo State. A validated instrument was used to elicit information on self- care practices at baseline, immediate-post intervention and follow-up. A training manual was developed to facilitate the intervention. The education intervention was administered to the group through a 60 minutes session for 6 weeks. Data were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis with significant level set at 0.05. The findings of the study revealed that patients’ self-care sub domain variables were low in the baseline. However, foot care behavior was high. The study also revealed that at the immediate post-intervention, the respondents’ physical activities had a mean of 9.77 with SD of 3.36; healthy eating 9.80 with SD of 3.08; monitoring blood glucose activities 11.57 with SD of 3.97; compliance with medication activities 12.86 with SD of 4.45; risk reduction 12.50 with SD of 4.70; and foot care 12.70 with SD of 4.47. At 6th week follow-up, the respondents’ physical activities had a mean of 11.43 with SD of 0.90; healthy eating 11.00 with SD of 1.41; monitoring blood glucose activities 13.63 with SD of 0.85; compliance with medication activities 14.00 with SD of 1.31; risk reduction 14.30 with SD of 4.70; and foot care 14.10 with SD of 0.99. It was recommended among others that health workers should as a matter of urgency introduce health classes to diabetic patients at least once a week to foster good adherence to self-care activities.

Keywords: Diabetic Patients, Health Education, Physical-Interaction, Practice, Self-Care,

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