A health promotion model-based intervention to enhance treatment adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes

The present study aimed to determine the effect of an intervention based on Pender's health promotion model (HPM) on treatment adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

The present quasi-experimental study with a 3-month follow-up was conducted in Bandar Abbas, a city in the south of Iran in 2023. The intervention group (IG) with a total number of 95 T2D patients was selected from Hormuz diabetes clinic and the control group (CG) with 95 T2D patients was selected from comprehensive health centers through a clustering sampling method. The educational intervention was implemented in 10 sessions to improve patients' treatment adherence. The teaching methods in training sessions were lectures, joint discussions, Q&A, role-play and peer training. The participants were evaluated using a researcher-made questionnaire including the constructs of Pender's HPM about T2D treatment adherence, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), and BMI. Independent-samples t-test, paired-samples t-test, covariance analysis and stepwise regression analysis were used. Data analysis was done in SPSS 26.

Three months after the intervention, in comparison to the CG, the mean and standard deviation of treatment adherence benefits (p = 0.002), treatment adherence self-efficacy (p = 0.010), treatment adherence related affect (p = 0.001), interpersonal influences (p = 0.012), commitment to plan of action (p < 0.001), treatment adherence behavior (p = 0.022), treatment adherence experiences (p = 0.001) was higher in the IG. The mean and standard deviation of situational influences (p < 0.001), immediate competing demands and preferences (p = 0.018) were lower than the CG. The results obtained from the analysis of covariance proved the effectiveness of the intervention in the constructs of Pender's HPM and HbA1C in participants of the IG (p < 0.001). The regression analysis showed, after the intervention, for every 1 unit of change in commitment to behavior planning, action related affect and perceived self-efficacy, compared to before the intervention, there were 0.22 units, 0.16 units and 0.26 units of change in the behavior score in the IG.

The findings proved the effectiveness of the educational intervention in improving the constructs in Pender's HPM and the blood sugar level of T2D patients. As the results of the educational intervention showed, the use of a suitable educational approach as well as the development of appropriate educational content for the target population can significantly improve the treatment adherence behavior.

This study is registered on the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20211228053558N1: https://www.irct.ir/trial/61741 ) and first release date of 17th March 2022.