Effects of Social-Behavioural Engagement on Perception of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes on Self-Care Management in Southwestern Nigeria

Introduction: Effective self-care is essential for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet adherence is low in Nigeria. We evaluated a theory-guided social-behavioural engagement intervention (social support, role-play, educational sessions) on perceived self-care among adults with T2DM in two teaching hospitals in Ogun State. Methods: In a quasi-experimental design, 60 adults (30–70 years) were systematically sampled—intervention site: Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital; control: Babcock University Teaching Hospital. A validated questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.70–0.82) assessed perceived self-care at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 10-week follow-up. The intervention group received two 90-minute group sessions weekly for 10 weeks (20 sessions); controls received standard clinic education. Data were analysed with independent-sample and paired-sample t-tests using IBM SPSS v23 at α = 0.05. Ethical approval was granted by BUHREC and OOUHREC. Results: Mean change in perception scores was 4.07 ± 1.28 (experimental) versus 0.11 ± 0.85 (control); the between-group difference was significant (t (54) = 12.13, p < 0.001, 95% CI 3.34–4.80, Cohen’s d = 1.46), indicating a large positive effect. Conclusion: Integrating similar social-behavioural interventions into diabetes care could enhance patient empowerment and sustained glycaemic control.