A nurse-coaching intervention for women with type 2 diabetes

PURPOSE the purpose of this pilot study was to determine the efficacy of a 6-month nurse-coaching intervention that was provided after diabetes education for women with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this pilot study, 53 women were randomized to the nurse-coaching intervention or a standard care control condition. The nurse-coaching intervention consisted of 5 individualized sessions and 2 follow-up phone calls over 6 months. The nurse-coaching sessions included educational, behavioral, and affective strategies. Data were collected on physiologic adaptation ( hemoglobin A1c [A1C] and body mass index [BMI]), self-management ( dietary and exercise), psychosocial adaptation (diabetes-related distress and integration), and treatment satisfaction at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. RESULTS Women in the treatment group demonstrated better diet self-management, less diabetes-related distress, better integration, and more satisfaction with care, and had trends of better exercise self-management and BMI. The A1C levels improved in both groups at 3 months, yet the difference between the groups was not significant. Attendance at nurse-coaching sessions was 96%. CONCLUSIONS This nurse-coaching intervention demonstrates promise as a means of improving self-management and psychosocial outcomes in women with type 2 diabetes.