Significance of fostering the mental health of patients with diabetes through critical time intervention.

Background: Critical time intervention (CTI) is an evidence-based model of practice that is time-limited and aims to provide support for most susceptible individuals during a transition period.

Aim: To examine the significance of fostering the mental health of diabetes patients through CTI using the scoping review methodology.

Methods: As part of the scoping review process, we followed the guidelines established by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The search databases were Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Reference Citation Analysis (https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/), and Cochrane Library. From these databases, 77 articles were retrieved with the aid of carefully selected search terms. However, 19 studies were selected after two reviewers appraised the full texts to ensure that they are all eligible for inclusion, while 54 papers were excluded.

Results: This study revealed that diabetic patients who had experienced homelessness were at higher risk of being diagnosed with mental illness and that social support services are impactful in the management of the comorbidity of diabetes and mental health problems. In addition, this review reveals that CTI is impactful in enhancing the mental health of homeless patients during the transitional period from the hospital through social support services.

Conclusion: CTI is a promising intervention for alleviating mental health symptoms in homeless patients. Empirical studies are needed across the globe, involving both hospitalized and community-based patients, to determine how clinically effectively CTI is in managing the mental health of diabetics.