A Theory-Based Nursing Intervention to Improve Self-Management Behavior and Health Status in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes and Frailty.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing intervention based on the integration theory of health behavior change (ITHBC) in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and frailty.

METHOD

This cluster randomized controlled trial has a two-group pre-/posttest design. The intervention group received a 12-week nursing intervention based on the ITHBC and routine health education, whereas the control group only received routine health education. Self-management, frailty, quality of life, fasting blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), grip strength, and functional mobility were measured.

RESULTS

Seventy-one participants (intervention group, = 35; control group, = 36) completed the entire study. After the intervention, participants in the intervention group exhibited significant improvements in self-management (all < 0.001), frailty level ( = 0.006), quality of life (all < 0.001), and grip strength ( < 0.05), and maintained ideal fasting blood glucose levels ( < 0.05) compared to participants in the control group. However, there were no statistically significant differences in BMI and functional mobility ( > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The 12-week nursing intervention based on the ITHBC could enhance self-management, reduce frailty, improve quality of life and grip strength, and maintain optimal fasting blood glucose levels in older adults with T2DM. [(6), 293-306.].