Effect of Peer Support Group on the Level of Depression in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Depression is one of the most common psychological problems in diabetic patients. Peer support groups focusing on shared experiences may affect patients' minds. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of peer support groups on the level of depression in type 2 diabetic patients. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 64 patients with type 2 diabetes in Sabzevar, Iran, during 2018. The level of depression was assessed before and six weeks after the intervention using the Beck Depression Inventory-II. The intervention group attended peer support group sessions, whereas the control group received training by a nurse at the diabetes center. The data were analyzed in STATA software (version 12) using repeated measures ANOVA. According to the results, the mean ages of the patients were 51.7±9.2 and 51.5±8.5 years in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Moreover, the total depression scores in the intervention and control groups were obtained at 24.7±2.9 and 23.3±2.8, respectively. However, these values changed to 15.1±6.1 and 24.3±4.8 immediately after the intervention, as well as 15.8±6.1 and 24.7±4.3 six weeks later, in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant difference between these two groups in terms of the effect of the group (P<0.001), the effect of time (P<0.001), and mutual effect (P<0.001). Implications for Practice: Peer support group could decrease the level of depression in diabetic patients therefore, it is recommended that peer education be considered as a part of patients’ therapeutic program with the aim of reducing mental symptoms.