Online Self-management Training and Play Therapy for Treating Behavioral Problems of Children With T1DM

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood and adolescence, which is associated with various psychological problems. This study aims to compare the effect of group internet-delivered self-management training (iSMT) and “patient child” play (PCP) on externalizing and internalizing problems in children with T1DM in Isfahan City, Iran.

This randomized clinical trial was conducted from January 2020 to October 2021. From all children aged 8 to 11 years with T1DM diagnosed by endocrinologists, 75 children were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and were randomly assigned into three groups, iSMT, PCP, and control (each group was 25). Their parents filled out the child behavior checklist (CBCL) for them in the pre and post-treatment stages. The iSMT group received 10 sessions of education via Skyroom and the playgroup performed PCP for 10 sessions. The control group did not receive any psychological intervention. All participants received routine diabetes medication. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 23 and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for 59 children in 3 groups (iSMT=19, PCP=20, and control=20).

The results showed that the PCP group had more improvement in SP compared to the iSMT group as well as a significant improvement in rule-breaking behaviors (RB) compared to the control group.

PCP is effective in improving SP and RB of children with T1DM and can be used as a complementary treatment for them.