Analysis of Self-Care Activities in Type 2 Diabetes in Brazil: Protocol for a Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that is growing worldwide. It is estimated that 15.7 million people aged between 20 and 79 years live with diabetes in Brazil, and the majority of cases are type 2 diabetes (T2D). To successfully manage diabetes, the patient needs to develop self-care activities. However, there is limited understanding of what self-care activities are performed by people with T2D in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify and map studies that evaluate self-care activities in T2D in Brazil.

METHODS

This is a scoping review protocol structured according to the methodological guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Six databases and gray literature were used. The process of searching, identifying, and evaluating the papers was carried out by 2 independent reviewers, guided by the assumptions established by the Joanna Briggs Institute. We sought to answer the following guiding question: How are self-care activities for people with T2D evaluated in Brazil? We included papers and publications in any language, from public and private domains, and with different methodological approaches.

RESULTS

Initial database searches produced a total of 681 results. These papers will be critically analyzed, and relevant information will be extracted. Quantitative and qualitative results of the papers reviewed will be presented to respond to the study's objective. We intend to publish the scoping review in the first half of 2024.

CONCLUSIONS

The protocol for this scoping review will evaluate the main self-care activities carried out by adults and older people with T2D in Brazil. The results may help identify knowledge gaps and contribute to future research and diabetes education interventions.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/49105.

Social Media-Delivered Patient Education to Enhance Self-management and Attitudes of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

The use of mobile health technologies has been necessary to deliver patient education to patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

This open-label randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a diabetes educational platform—Taipei Medical University–LINE Oriented Video Education—delivered through a social media app.

Methods

Patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from a clinic through physician referral. The social media–based program included 51 videos: 10 about understanding diabetes, 10 about daily care, 6 about nutrition care, 21 about diabetes drugs, and 4 containing quizzes. The intervention group received two or three videos every week and care messages every 2 weeks through the social media platform for 3 months, in addition to usual care. The control group only received usual care. Outcomes were measured at clinical visits through self-reported face-to-face questionnaires at baseline and at 3 months after the intervention, including the Simplified Diabetes Knowledge Scale (true/false version), the Diabetes Care Profile–Attitudes Toward Diabetes Scales, the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels. Health literacy was measured at baseline using the Newest Vital Sign tool. Differences in HbA_1c levels and questionnaire scores before and after the intervention were compared between groups. The associations of knowledge, attitudes, and self-care activities with health literacy were assessed.

Results

Patients with type 2 diabetes completed the 3-month study, with 91 out of 181 (50.3%) patients in the intervention group and 90 (49.7%) in the control group. The change in HbA_1c did not significantly differ between groups (intervention group: mean 6.9%, SD 0.8% to mean 7.0%, SD 0.9%, P=.34; control group: mean 6.7%, SD 0.6% to mean 6.7%, SD 0.7%, P=.91). Both groups showed increased mean knowledge scores at 12 weeks, increasing from 68.3% (SD 16.4%) to 76.7% (SD 11.7%; P<.001) in the intervention group and from 64.8% (SD 18.2%) to 73.2% (SD 12.6%; P<.001) in the control group. Positive improvements in attitudes and self-care activities were only observed in the intervention group (attitudes: mean difference 0.2, SD 0.5, P=.001; self-care activities: mean difference 0.3, SD 1.2, P=.03). A 100% utility rate was achieved for 8 out of 21 (38%) medication-related videos. Low health literacy was a significant risk factor for baseline knowledge scores in the intervention group, with an odds ratio of 2.80 (95% CI 1.28-6.12; P=.01); this became insignificant after 3 months.

Conclusions

The social media–based program was effective at enhancing the knowledge, attitudes, and self-care activities of patients with diabetes. This intervention was also helpful for patients with low health literacy in diabetes knowledge. The program represents a potentially useful tool for delivering diabetes education to patients through social media, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04876274; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/results/NCT04876274

Self-care activities among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study

AIMS

This study investigated self-care activities and identified their related factors in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China, between September 2016 and February 2017, involving 202 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Measures included the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire and Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Self-care activities in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were suboptimal overall. Foot care and blood sugar testing were the self-care activities that were performed the least. One fifth of patients smoked. Some subscales of illness perceptions, receiving health education on diabetes, employment status, education level, body mass index, age and time since type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis, were related to self-care activities in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSION

Health-care providers and nurses should encourage greater engagement in self-care activities in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially foot care and blood sugar testing. Illness perceptions may be used as a framework to guide interventions.