The Effectiveness of Diabetes Self-Management Education Program Based on Behavioural Change Theory

Background: Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) is prevalent, costly to healthcare services and associated with significant mortality; over 1.5 million deaths occur directly by diabetes in low and middle-income countries (WHO,2014) and diabetes is predicted to be the seventh leading cause of death by 2030. Ajlouni et al (2008) estimated that approximately one million people in Jordan have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes; a figure that is increasing. More than half a million Jordanians have an uncontrolled level of Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c >7.5%) due to factors such as sedentary lifestyle and poor medication management. To prevent diabetes microvascular and macro vascular complications, increased efforts and attention need to be directed towards improving glycaemic levels and improving metabolic outcomes through appropriate glycaemic management. Intensive diabetes management by anti-hyperglycaemic medications alone may improve metabolic outcomes, but may also lead to side effects for patients such as hypoglycaemia and weight gain. Patients with diabetes are strongly recommended to engage in self-management over their glucose levels and this may be best achieved through educating patients in self-management of diabetes.

Didactic interventions have shown to improve metabolic outcomes, although benefits last less than six months and are not sustained in the long term. Educational programs need to target psychological factors such as patient's confidence, to ensure self-management strategies are sustained in the long term. Barriers in diabetes self-management behaviours map on to the Information-Motivation-Behavioural skills (IMB) Model of behavioural change. The model was critically constructed based on analysing previous interventions and addressing limitations of the theories that have been used among clients with HIV risk. Chang et al (2014) systematically reviewed the IMB model-based behavioural interventions and found that effects of IMB model persisted up to 12 months in studies followed up patients for 12 months.

Aim: To examine the effects of IMB Model-based Diabetes Self-Management Educational (DSME) intervention on three self-management activities: patients' eating habits, physical activity and medications management, in patients who attend an outpatients diabetes clinics at Jordan University Hospital and Prince Hamzeh Hospital in Jordan. The hypothesis to be tested is that the IMB educational program will improve participants' behavioural outcomes in self-care at 6 months compared with control participants.

Research protocol and methods: A two group trial with randomised allocation of 230 participants on 1:1 average for both groups. Intervention group will receive the educational intervention. Control group will receive usual clinical care and referral to diabetes educational consultation if required. This intervention is an individualised DSME program based on Information-Motivation-Behavioural (IMB) skills theory. IMB behavioural change theory assumption proposes that health-related behaviour information, motivation and behavioural skills are primary determinants of promoting health behaviour. The intervention will be based on a validated DSME toolkit and will be delivered using motivational interviewing techniques through a two face-to-face session and follow-up phone calls at patients preferred frequency for a period of 3 months.

Data collection will occur at 3 time points; baseline, 3 months and 6 months. Measures will include self-management knowledge, motivation, behavioural skills, diabetes outcomes (HbA1c), blood pressure and weight. At 3 months, some participants in the intervention group will be selected using purposive sampling, to participate in a process evaluation interview.

Measurable end point/statistical power of the study: Primary outcome is diabetes self-care activities measured at 6 months using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Scale (SDSCA) questionnaire. Statistical power of 0.8 has been used to calculate study sample.