Behaviors in type II diabetes during contingency contracting

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Diabetes Management
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Type II diabetes requires significant lifestyle modifications for effective management.
• Contingency contracting is a behavioral intervention strategy used to promote adherence to treatment regimens.
• Previous research indicates the potential of contingency contracting in improving clinical outcomes for diabetic patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the specific behaviors undertaken by individuals with Type II diabetes within contingency contracts.
• To describe the completion rates and types of behaviors engaged in by subjects.
• To identify effective behavioral strategies employed in diabetes self-management.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from a larger randomized clinical trial focused on contingency contracting.
• Examination of behavioral data from 117 subjects diagnosed with Type II diabetes.
• Descriptive statistical analysis of behavior completion rates and types.

Main Results:

• Subjects demonstrated high completion rates for behaviors in contingency contracts (M = 90.9%).
• A median of six behaviors were performed overall, with up to three related to the diabetic regimen.
• Diet and exercise were the most common behaviors, though few subjects (34.2%) performed both concurrently.
• Breaking down behaviors into steps and self-monitoring were the most frequent strategies.

Conclusions:

• Contingency contracting is effective in promoting behavior completion among Type II diabetes patients.
• The intervention requires modification to be more comprehensive, acknowledging the effort needed for simultaneous diet and exercise changes.
• Future interventions should incorporate strategies that better support multifaceted lifestyle adjustments in diabetes care.