Comparing the effectiveness of mobile social network-based mindfulness intervention with acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness therapy on self-management and glycated haemoglobin level among patients with type ۲ diabetes

Background and aims: The present study aimed to compare mobile social network-based mindfulness training, along with acceptance andcommitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness therapy on self-management and glycated haemoglobin (HbA۱c) level in patients with type۲ diabetes.Materials and Methods: The research employed a pretest-posttest control group quasi-experimental design with a three-month follow-up.Among type ۲ diabetic patients who referred to diabetes treatment centers in Isfahan in the spring of ۲۰۱۸, ۸۰ of them were purposefullyselected based on inclusion criteria and then randomly assigned to three groups of the social network-based mindfulness intervention,ACT, and mindfulness training, along with a control group. Then, the summaries of Diabetes Self-care Activities questionnaire and glycatedhaemoglobin test were used to measure the dependent variables. The mindfulness interventions were conducted in the form of attendancein the training sessions. In addition, virtual network-based training and ACT were presented during eight ۴۵-minute and ۱۲۰-minutesessions, respectively. Finally, the data were analyzed using repeated measures of ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test by SPSS software.Results: The findings indicated that in the self-management variable, there was a significant difference between social network-basedmindfulness (posttest mean=۳۰.۵۹, follow-up mean=۳۰.۸۸, P = ۰.۰۰۴) and ACT (posttest mean=۳۲.۷, follow-up mean=۳۲.۲۹, P = ۰.۰۰۱)with the control group. Further, a significant difference was observed between ACT and mindfulness therapy regarding self-management(P = ۰.۰۴). In the HbA۱c level, there was a significant difference only between social network-based mindfulness (mean in posttest andfollow-up=۷.۴۴and ۷.۳۹, respectively, P = ۰.۰۲) and the control group.Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, mobile social networks-based mindfulness interventions, along with ACT, areconsidered as effective treatments for diabetic patients to increase self-management while reducingHbA۱c.

Keywords:

Self-management , Glycated haemoglobin , Diabetes , Social network-based mindfulness , Acceptance and commitment therapy