Comparing the Effect of Internet-Delivered Self-Care Training and Play Therapy on the Quality of Life of Children with Type 1 diabetes in 2021 in Isfahan City- Randomized Clinical Trial

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood, and its management is associated with many problems. The study aimed to compare the effect of group self-care training and patient child play (PCP) on quality of life (QoL) in children with type 1 diabetes in Isfahan, Iran.

This randomized trial was done from January 2020 to October 2021 in Endocrine and Metabolism research center of Isfahan University of medical sciences. Seventy- five children aged 8 to 11 years with T1DM who did not have a severe behavioral problem based on the child behavior checklist (CBCL) were simple randomly assigned to three groups: self-care training, play therapy, and control. The self-care group received ten education sessions via the Skyroom and the playgroup performed PCP for ten sessions. The control group did not receive any psychological intervention. All participants received routine diabetes medication. They completed a health-related QoL questionnaire for children (KIDSCREEN-52) before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS-23 software and analysis of covariance.

A significant difference between the mean scores of the post-test subscales of physical well-being (P= 0.003), psychological well-being (P= 0.003), moods and emotions (P= 0.02), self-perception (P= 0.002), self-autonomy (P= 0.002), parental relationships and family life (P= 0.001), social and peers support (P= 0.04), school environment (P= 0.003) and social acceptance (P= 0.001) in PCP group.

Self-care training and PCP are effective in increasing the QoL, and can be used as a complementary treatment in children with T1DM.