Effectiveness of Peer Education on Self-Care Behaviors and Glycemic Control in Adolescents with Type ۱ Diabetes: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Background: Adolescents with type ۱ diabetes (T۱D) often struggle with maintaining optimal self-care and glycemic control. Peer education, leveraging support from individuals with similar experiences, is a promising strategy for improving health behaviors in chronic conditions.Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured peer education program on self-care behaviors and glycated hemoglobin (HbA۱c) levels in adolescents with T۱D.Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, ۶۲ adolescents (aged ۱۲-۱۸ years) with T۱D and baseline HbA۱c >۷.۵% were recruited from a single center (Ali Asghar Hospital, Zahedan, Iran) in ۲۰۲۴-۲۰۲۵. Participants were randomized into an intervention group (receiving a ۱۲-week program of four ۹۰-minute peer-led educational sessions) and a control group (receiving routine care). Outcomes were measured at baseline and ۱۲ weeks using the validated Persian version of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire and HbA۱c tests. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version ۲۶) and included paired and independent t-tests. This research was supported by Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.Results: All participants completed the study. The intervention group showed a significant improvement in self-care scores (from ۶۵.۷ ± ۹.۹ to ۷۹.۲ ± ۱۱.۰, p < ۰.۰۰۱) and a significant reduction in HbA۱c levels (from ۹.۴ ± ۱.۳% to ۸.۱ ± ۰.۹%, p < ۰.۰۰۱). No significant changes were observed in the control group for either outcome. Conclusions: A structured peer education program significantly improved self-care behaviors and glycemic control in adolescents with T۱D within this trial context, suggesting it may be a valuable adjunct to conventional care. However, the findings should be interpreted considering the study's limitations, including its single-center design, relatively

کلیدواژه ها:

Adolescents ، Glycemic control ، HbA۱c ، Peer Education ، self-care ، Type ۱ diabetes