Diabetes distress (DD) refers to the emotional burdens that arise from living with a demanding chronic disease like diabetes. T1REDEEM was a randomized-controlled trial comparing two group interventions to reduce DD among adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D): KnowIt (KI), a comprehensive education program, and OnTrack (OT), a program focused on identifying and addressing diabetes-related emotions. Both programs included a group workshop and 4 online group meetings over 3 months. Both programs were equally effective in reducing high DD. The aim of this report is to compare participant satisfaction between programs, and to identify key themes related to participation. 267 of 293 (91.1%) participants completed surveys following the 3-month intervention program to rate satisfaction and experience. T-tests compared group mean scores. A thematic analysis of open-ended survey questions identified overarching experiential themes. Participants in OT were significantly more satisfied than those in KI on multiple measures: they rated OT as more helpful (3.62 (1.1) vs. 3.13 (1.1)), had a more positive group workshop experience (4.22 (.9) vs. 3.68 (1.1)), and reported profiting more from group discussion (3.98 (1.0) vs. 3.58 (1.1)) and group support (3.72 (1.2) vs. 3.19 (1.3), all p<.05). Main themes related to satisfaction and experience differed by group. KI participants reported higher levels of disappointment, especially concerning lack of novelty of program content. OT participants reported greater exploration of new health behaviors, gaining a new perspective on their diabetes, and finding the experience of meeting other adults with T1D to be more assuring. Feeling support from and connection with other group participants was a more common theme in OT than KI. Findings suggest that high DD T1D adults participating in an emotion-focused intervention were more satisfied than those attending an education-focused program to address high DD.

Disclosure

V. Bowyer: None. L. Fisher: Consultant; Self; Abbott, Eli Lilly and Company. D.M. Hessler: Consultant; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. W. Polonsky: Consultant; Self; Abbott, Bigfoot Biomedical, Dexcom, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation, Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute, Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi, Servier. U. Masharani: Research Support; Self; Clementia Pharmaceuticals. J. Parra: Employee; Self; Behavioral Diabetes Institute. M. Dedhia: None.

Funding

National Institutes of Health

© 2019 by the American Diabetes Association.
2019
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