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A pilot randomized controlled trial of a gratitude intervention for adolescents with Type 1 diabetes
Author(s) -
Schache K. R.,
Hofman P. L.,
Serlachius A. S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/dme.14078
Subject(s) - gratitude , medicine , psychosocial , randomized controlled trial , psychological intervention , type 2 diabetes , quality of life (healthcare) , physical therapy , confidence interval , diabetes mellitus , psychiatry , psychology , endocrinology , psychotherapist , nursing
Aim Cost‐effective psychosocial interventions that can feasibly be implemented into busy clinical settings are needed to improve psychological and physical health outcomes in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. We examined the efficacy of a gratitude journalling intervention to improve psychological well‐being and glycaemic control in adolescents aged 10–16 years with Type 1 diabetes. Methods Eighty adolescents were randomized to the 8‐week gratitude intervention ( N = 40) or standard care ( N = 40). Self‐reported measures of stress, quality of life, self‐care, depression and gratitude were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks after baseline. Glycaemic control (HbA 1c ) was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks after baseline. A per‐protocol analysis was conducted with the adolescents who completed all questionnaires ( N = 60). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to examine differences between treatment arms at follow‐up adjusting for baseline scores. Results There was no evidence of any between‐group differences in the psychological or behavioural measures at follow‐up (all P ‐values > 0.05). Glycaemic control slightly increased in the control group while remaining stable in the gratitude group, with a between‐group difference of 6.1 mmol/mol [95% confidence interval (CI) −2.6 to 14.7; 0.6%, 95% CI −0.2 to 1.3] at 12 weeks after baseline. After adjusting for baseline HbA 1c , this between‐group difference was significant ( P = 0.048). Conclusions This is the first randomized trial of a gratitude journalling intervention for adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Gratitude journalling interventions represent a clinically usable approach. If and how it helps to stabilise glycaemic control in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes remains to be confirmed in future research.