Assessing the Effect of Family-based Intervention Education Program on Perceived Social Support among Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Application of Social Cognitive Theory

diabetes is one of problems in aging. Family support helps to maintain independence and self-care which results in reducing diabetes cost and burden. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of a family-based social support educational intervention program among older people with type 2 diabetes. In this interventional study, eligible elderly patients with type 2 diabetes participated in the study using randomized sampling. A three parts questionnaire including demographic and heath related variable, standard perceived social support instrument and self-designed questionnaire based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). After baseline, an educational program performed based on Social Cognitive Theory constructs (SCT) (knowledge and situation analysis, expected outcome, self-efficacy, self-management and self-control to relatives who lived with the subjects (the intervention group). Collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 with statistical tests at the significant level of p<0.05. Before intervention, there was no significant differences perceived social support and constructs of SCT between intervention group and compare based on Wilcoxon test (p>0.05). But after the intervention, there was a statistical difference (p<0.001). SCT' structures and perceived social support just in the intervention group revealed a statistical differences using Paired t- Test (p<0.001). family-centered educational program based on SCT can be effective in diabetes care improvement and family support promotion in health care systems.