There were no significant mean reductions for body mass index or serum cholesterol .
Nurse-led interventions produced greater improvements than ' usual care ' for HbA1c , serum triglyceride and smoking cessation and support an increased independent role for nurses in diabetes management
A randomized trial of regular standardized telephone contact by a diabetes nurse educator in adolescents with poor diabetes control.
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the effect of regular st and ardized telephone contact by a diabetes nurse educator ( DNE ) on metabolic control , treatment compliance , and quality of life in adolescents with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes . METHODS A single-blinded 6-month r and omized controlled trial was used . Participants included 46 of 49 eligible adolescents ( 13 - 17 yr ) with type 1 diabetes > 1-yr duration and hemoglobin A1c ( HbA1c ) > 8.5 % for the previous 6 months . Subjects were r and omly assigned to 6 months of st and ard diabetes management or st and ard care plus weekly telephone contact by a DNE . Telephone conversations included review of events in the adolescents ' lives and diabetes education , but the primary focus was on blood glucose results and insulin-dose adjustments . HbA1c , compliance with glucose monitoring , quality of life [ Diabetes Quality of Life Scale for Youth ( DQOLY ) ] , and family functioning [ Family Environment Scale ( FES ) ] were assessed at baseline , and at 3 and 6 months . Posthoc , HbA1c levels were assessed 6 months following study completion . RESULTS Six months of regular telephone contact by a DNE had no immediate effect on any of the outcome measures . However , posthoc 6 months , HbA1c levels decreased ( 1 % change compared to baseline ) in 6/21 of the study group and 0/18 of the control group , while HbA1c increased in 4/21 of study subjects compared to 8/18 of control subjects ( p = 0.015 ) . CONCLUSIONS In contrast to adult studies , regular telephone contact did not lead to immediate improvements in metabolic control in adolescents with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes . However , knowledge and skills gained during the intervention may have had a delayed beneficial effect in these high-risk adolescents
There were no significant mean reductions for body mass index or serum cholesterol .
Nurse-led interventions produced greater improvements than ' usual care ' for HbA1c , serum triglyceride and smoking cessation and support an increased independent role for nurses in diabetes management