Comparing the Effectiveness of Integrated Meta-Diagnostic Therapy and Hope Therapy on Coronavirus Anxiety and Self-Care Behavior in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is considered a major health threat, and one of the central issues relevant to this disease is the need for various psychological and physical strategies to boost patient self-care. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of integrated meta-diagnostic therapy and hope therapy on coronavirus anxiety and self-care behavior in patients with type2 diabetes.

The present research is a quasi-experimental study based on the pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical sample was comprised of 45 members of Ahvaz Diabetes Association in 2020. They were selected using the purposive sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and a control group (each including 15 people). They completed Alipour et al.'s (2020) Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and the Toobert et al.'s (2000) Self-Care Behavior questionnaire as the pretest and the posttest. Integrated meta-diagnostic therapy was conducted in 12 sessions, once a week, and for 60 minutes, and Hope therapy, in 8 sessions, once a week and for 60 minutes. The data were analyzed using Multivariate and Univariate Analysis of Covariance.

Both therapies had a significant effect on reducing coronavirus anxiety and increasing self-care behavior (p<0.001). Hope therapy was more effective in increasing self-care behavior, but there was no significant difference between these two therapies regarding self-care behavior (p<0.001).

Overall, the findings provide empirical support for both therapies in reducing coronavirus anxiety and improving self-care behavior. Moreover, the knowledge of psychotherapists in the field of safety and health of these approaches can be helpful.