Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of AHUIKE Intervention among Nigerian Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type Two Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a deadly and costly disease. An estimated six million Nigerians live with T2DM (Ugwu et al., 2020). Various researchers reported that Nigerian adults between 20 and 79 years of age are the most affected age group and account for 2 to 12 % of T2DM prevalence in Nigeria (Uloko et al., 2021). The purpose of this research study is to determine the feasibility of conducting the AHUIKE intervention in Nigeria. The study used a quantitative one-group pre-and-post test design to conduct this research study.The participants showed a strong understanding that lung disease is not associated with DM complications (50.0%). Overall, participants showed acceptable knowledge of DM (69.6 ± 11.2%). The increase in participants' knowledge of DM, from 19.4 ± 8.4% pre-intervention to 69.6 ± 11.2% post-intervention, was significant (t = 22.039, p < .001). Data showed a statistically significant increase in participants' DM health beliefs following the AHUIKE DM intervention, particularly in perceived susceptibility (t = 4.706, p < .001), severity (t = 6.988, p < .001), and benefit (t = 4.243, p < .001), with the post-intervention scores notably higher than pre-intervention scores. However, perceived barriers showed no significant difference in post-AHUIKE intervention (t = -.656, p = .517). Data showed no association between knowledge of DM and health belief at pre-and post-intervention (Table 6; =p > .050). Data also revealed no significant relationship between the following socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and knowledge of DM: age (r = -.161, p = .379), gender (rpb = .091, p = .620), marital status (rpb = .174, p = .340), educational level (rs = -.098, r = .592), and income (r = -.225, p = .216). Data showed no significant relationship between DM health beliefs and the socio-demographic factors of participants (p > .050). Data from this research showed that the AHUIKE intervention is a pertinent way of improving the Igbo Nigerian ethnic group's DM knowledge and health beliefs of DM and supporting DM knowledge acquisition to assist patients in managing DM appropriately.