Creative Writing for Type 2 Diabetes Management (CrewD)

Associacao Protectora dos Diabeticos de Portugal

Status: Completed

Conditions: Diabetes

Treatments: Behavioral: Classical structured education; Behavioral: CrewD Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03678896

CrewD trial

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is related to the development of a new model of Group Care for patients with Diabetes - the CrewD Program, incorporating close reading and creative writing in group education. A randomized trial was designed to evaluate this intervention.

Full description

A structured educational model for type 2 diabetic patients using Group Care is currently being used in several institutions for help managing diabetes in these patients. In this study, this model was adjusted by introducing literary texts and using narrative skills. A randomized trial was designed to determine whether group dynamic strategies using narrative and reading produce the same positive outcomes as a conventional group approach. A total of 49 patients with type 2 Diabetes were randomized to two different Group Care dynamics, one "control group", with a classical structured educational approach and another, "intervention group", with close reading and creative writing. Evaluation included anthropometrical measures, A1c and questionnaires for psychological evaluation.

Enrollment: 49 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 85 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Only patients with type 2 diabetes of >1 year known duration, aged < 85 years were included in the intervention.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients that did not complete the four assessments.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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49 participants in 2 patient groups

CrewD Program approach

Experimental group

Description:

The aim was to increase education about the disease by using narrative skills through the CrewD Program. The sessions were conducted by two group leaders: a health professional and a literature professor manager of creative writing groups. Each session had a title, which parallels the classical structured educational approach (active comparator condition), which was known in advance by the subjects: a) Who I am in Diabetes?; b) Nutrition; c) The body where I live; d) Fears; e) Can attention change things?; and f) Roots. Team leaders directed a discussion of different texts used in the sessions with the participants focusing on their feelings and on how the texts relate to themselves and to their diabetes. Patients were encouraged to participate and freely express their opinion.

Treatment:

Behavioral: CrewD Program

Classical structured education

Active Comparator group

Description:

Each session was 90 minutes long, with a similar internal structure in all of them. Each session included the following topics: a) Chronic Disease; b) Nutrition; c) Exercise; d) Complications; e) Self-management; and f) Diabetic foot. The sessions were held in a large room, in which the seats were arranged in circle. Every session was chaired by two healthcare providers, who worked as group leaders. There was a different visual presentation in each session, with relevant theoretical information. A board with sheets of paper was available for use in the discussion along with brochures about the disease. Patients were encouraged to actively participate and take part in group-problem solving. Group leaders guided the discussion by asking questions and encouraging the discussion.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Classical structured education