Determining the Efficacy of a Resiliency Training Approach in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

• Published in: The Diabetes educator Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 650 - 659
• Main Authors: Bradshaw, Beverly G, Richardson, Glenn E, Kumpfer, Karol, Carlson, Joseph, Stanchfield, John, Overall, James, Brooks, Ann Marie, Kulkarni, Karmeen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2007
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attitude to Health; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - psychology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - rehabilitation; Female; Humans; Internal-External Control; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Self Care; Single-Blind Method; Social Support
• ISSN: 0145-7217; 1554-6063
• DOI: 10.1177/0145721707303809

Purpose The purpose of this randomized clinical study was to test the efficacy of aresiliency training approach for people with diabetes who have previouslyreceived standard diabetes self-education. Methods A single-blinded, randomized design was employed with repeated measures(baseline, 3 months, 6 months) with 67 participants assigned to eithertreatment as usual (n = 37) or the resiliency classes (n = 30). Outcomevariables included physiological measures (glycosylated hemoglobin, waistmeasurement, eating and exercise habits) and psychosocial measures(self-efficacy, locus of control, social support, and purpose in life). Results Analyses of variance indicated that the intervention group had higherlevels of resiliency as reported by knowing positive ways of coping withdiabetes-related stress, knowing enough about themselves to make rightdiabetes choices, having fun in life, eating healthier, and increasingphysical activity compared with the control group at 3 months (P <.05). Glycosylated hemoglobin and waist measurement improved but notsignificantly. Conclusions Interventions to foster resilience among people with diabetes have thepotential to make an important contribution to increasing positive lifeoutcomes. Diabetes educators using the resiliency approach in tandem withstandard diabetes education programs can assist their patients to become moreself-directed in their diabetes care.