Assessing the Efficacy of an Online Support Program on the Chronic Disease Management of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Background Guidelines surrounding the medical treatment of type 1 diabetes are clear. They are less clear for managing the psychosocial effects of the disease. Research has shown that educational group interventions can be effective at improving glycemic control and psychosocial outcomes in this patient population. Photovoice could serve as a novel diabetes group intervention for improving psychosocial outcomes in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Methods We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial on 17 patients with type 1 diabetes aged 13-17 years to compare the effects of an online support group using photography to one not using photography on diabetes-specific psychosocial outcomes. These outcomes were assessed using the Diabetes Distress Scale, Diabetes Empowerment Scale-Short Form, and Diabetes Management Questionnaire. Feasibility and acceptability were also examined. Results An online support group program using photography is feasible and accepted by adolescents with type 1 diabetes. No improvements in diabetes-related distress, diabetes empowerment, or diabetes treatment adherence were seen when compared to an online support group using no photography. However, exploratory data suggest that this group intervention reduces regimen-related distress among participants 4 weeks post-intervention. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of an online Photovoice-based group intervention on diabetes-specific outcomes. More research is needed to demonstrate its efficacy on glycemic control and other diabetes-specific outcome measures.Master of Public Healt
