The Effect of a Diabetes Education Program Incorporating Coping Skills Training on Emotional Well-Being and Diabetes Self-Efficacy

This study examines the effects on emotional well-being and diabetes-related competence of an intensive education program taught by a multidisciplinary staff, including mental health professionals who taught diabetes-specific coping skills. Ninety-one adults who participated in the program completed the entire research protocol and follow-ups at 6-months and 12-months. The study assessed depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and diabetes-specific knowledge and self-efficacy. Participants improved initially on all measures and maintained the improvements at 1-year follow-up on measures of anxiety, self-esteem, and diabetes-specific knowledge and self-efficacy The implications of these findings for the design of educational interventions are discussed.