Effectiveness of Face-to-Face and Online Methods of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Based on Stress Reduction on Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy and Adherence to Treatment among Patients with Diabetes during the Coronavirus Pandemic

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of face-to-face and online methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy based on stress reduction on diabetes management self-efficacy and adherence to treatment among patients with diabetes during the coronavirus pandemic.

The present study followed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all diabetic patients referred to Parsian Diabetes Clinic (Tehran, Iran) in 2021. There were 15 people in each group selected through simple random sampling. Data collection tools included the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale (Vanderbilt et al., 1999) and the Treatment Adherence Questionnaire in patients with chronic disease. Cognitive-behavioral therapy based on stress management was performed in face-to-face and online methods in eight 90-min sessions. After data collection, data analysis was performed using the SPSS software (version 23).

The results showed that face-to-face and online methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy based on stress reduction had a significant effect on diabetes management self-efficacy (F=7.502, P=0.002); however, the difference between face-to-face and online methods was not significant. Additionally, the intervention in face-to-face and online methods had a significant effect on adherence to treatment (F=31.876, P=0.001), and the effect of the face-to-face intervention was greater than that of the online intervention (P<0.05).

Based on the results of this study, it seems that the online method of cognitive-behavioral therapy based on stress reduction can be used in quarantine conditions to provide psychological services for diabetic patients.