The Effectiveness of an Education Intervention Based on Self-Care Model on Social Support among Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The increasing prevalence rate has made diabetes mellitus a world epidemic. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) demands are extensive. Self-care among adolescents with T1DM improves when social support is provided by parents, caregivers and peers. This intervention study among adolescents with T1DM evaluated the effectiveness of a self-care model education intervention on social support. METHODOLOGY We conducted a quasi-experimental non-equivalent study design utilizing pre-test and post-test at Thika Level 5 Hospital (TL5H) and Kiambu Level 5 Hospital (KL5H) diabetes clinics in Kenya from January to August 2021. Adolescents aged 10 to 19 years at the two clinics selected by stratified random sampling were the study population. Experimental and control arms had 48 adolescents with T1DM. The experimental arm received education intervention but the control arm did not. The Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey (SSS) scale was used to assess social support in the first and seventh months. Data were analysed by the paired sample T-test and Independent T-test. RESULTS Paired sample T-test showed a significant increase in social support (p<0.05) before and after the intervention. Independent T-test showed a significant increase in social support (p<0.05) post-intervention. CONCLUSION Education intervention based on the self-care model is an effective program that could improve social support. In addition, the education intervention based on self-care model needs to be implemented continuously to prevent diabetes-related complications and improve social support for diabetic patients.