Behavioral Interventions for Visual Rehabilitation of People With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review

Introduction The aim of this systematic review was to identify which behavioral techniques can increase adherence to vision rehabilitation in people with visual impairments related to diabetic retinopathy. Methods A search was conducted in March 2024 across the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria were articles published from 1960 to 2024 in English or Spanish, systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials, and full-text review articles with evidence on diabetic retinopathy-related visual impairment and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the adult population. Results Three articles were included: one literature review and two randomized clinical trials, which mention strategies such as “problem-solving” and “social support.” Discussion It is unlikely that the interventions can be replicated, or that the behavioral change can be attributed solely to their implementation. The authors recommend to include descriptions of behavioral change techniques associated with the improvement of self-care, such as “Information about health consequences,” “problem-solving,” and “social support.” Implications for Practitioners Until now, the only evidence-based psychological treatments applied for this phenomenon according to the behavioral change technique taxonomy include teaching problem-solving skills and providing social support and information about health consequences. More research is needed to better understand how the behavior change occurs in this phenomenon, elaborate and replicate future interventions.