A peer support intervention in improving glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Patient Educ Couns

Diabetes Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Published: March 2018

Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a peer support intervention, in which patients with T2DM were provided ongoing self-management support by trained peers with diabetes directed at improving self-care behaviors, self-efficacy and life quality.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 200 patients referred to a diabetes specialty clinic were allocated to peer support or control group. Participants in both groups received usual education by diabetes educators. Intervention participants worked with the trained volunteer peers who encouraged participants to engage in daily self-management and to discuss and share their experiences and challenges of diabetes management. The primary outcomes were HbA1c, BMI, self-care behaviors, self-efficacy and life quality RESULTS: After 6 months, patients in the peer support group experienced a significant decline in mean A1c value (P=0.045). Also, mean diabetes self-management scores, mean self-efficacy scores and mean quality of life scores significantly improved in peer support group compared to control group (P values <0.001).

Conclusion: Peer support activities can be successfully applied in diabetes self-management, especially in areas with a shortage of professionals and economic resources.

Practice Implications: Peer support strategies should be integrated into our healthcare system to meet minimum needs of people with T2DM in Iran.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2017.10.007DOI Listing

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