Behavioral analysis and behavioral strategies to improve self-management of type II diabetes

The implications of behavioral analysis for practice and research have significant potential for nursing. This present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of nurses and patients actively participating in behavioral analysis and the implementation of behavioral strategies in order to improve the patients' self-management of their Type II diabetes. Patients (N = 156) were randomly assigned to one of four groups. The attention control group (n = 41) received routine care. The compliance group (n = 32) agreed to practice compliance behaviors related to the prescribed medical regimen. The behavioral strategies group (n = 42) participated in behavioral analysis and agreed to practice behavioral strategies. The behavioral strategies with instruction group (n = 41) participated in behavioral analysis, agreed to practice behavioral strategies, and received classes and programmed instruction about behavioral analysis and behavioral strategies. There were no outcome differences between groups relative to glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) and weight loss. There were differences in the outcome measures in subgroups by age, gender, and employment, which have practice and research implications for the individualization of interventions using behavioral strategies.