Clinical trial NCT01017523: Diabetes Support Project: Couples Intervention
Official title: Improving Diabetes Outcome: The Diabetes Support Project
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE3
Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes
Keywords: diabetes
relationship
social support
telemedicine
Lead sponsor: State University of New York - Upstate Medical University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
name: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
First posted: 2009-11-20
Enrollment: 268
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 21
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: FACTORIAL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Research has shown that diabetes affects both the patient and family, and that support from family and partners helps diabetes patients manage their illness better. However, diabetes programs rarely involve the partner. The purpose of this study is to test an intervention that helps partners and patients who have type 2 diabetes better support each other. The intervention will be delivered over the telephone to reach more people. Our hypothesis is that an intervention that targets the couple has a greater effect on health and well-being of patients than one that targets the individual patient alone.

Detailed description: Diabetes is a serious illness that affects an estimated 7% of the US population, and is associated with life-threatening and disabling complications. Research has shown that diabetes affects both the patient and family, and that support from one's spouse has been found to be the most important source of support during illness episodes. Research clearly shows that marital interaction, i.e., how the support is given and received, impacts both marital quality and health functioning. Despite the acknowledged importance of social support, the vast majority of chronic illness interventions target the individual patient. Telephone counseling has been effectively used to enhance feasibility and target patients with many illnesses, and has many benefits including low cost, decreased subject burden, and the ability to reach a broader population. This study proposes a study of a telephone-administered behavior change that promotes couples communication and collaboration.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes
* A1c level is \>=7.5%
* Age of target subject and spouse/partner is 21 years or older
* Married or together for \> 1 year
* Able to speak, read, and hear English
* Have a telephone

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of diabetes-related medical complications
* History of active psychosis or dementia

Primary outcomes:
measure: Blood glucose control (hemoglobin AIc)
timeFrame: Baseline, and 3 follow ups (mos 4, 8, 12)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: BMI/Waist circumference
timeFrame: Baseline and 3 follow-ups (mos 4, 8, and 12)
measure: Measures of behavior change (diet, physical activity)
timeFrame: Baseline and 3 follow-ups (mos 4, 8, and 12)
measure: Diabetes-related quality of life outcome (distress)
timeFrame: Baseline and 3 follow-ups (mos 4, 8, and 12)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: San Francisco
country: United States
facility: University of California, San Francisco
state: California
city: Syracuse
country: United States
facility: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Dept. of Psychiatry
state: New York
Study officials:
affiliation: State University of New York - Upstate Medical University
name: Paula M Trief, Ph.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
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citation: Fisher L, Weihs KL. Can addressing family relationships improve outcomes in chronic disease? Report of the National Working Group on Family-Based Interventions in Chronic Disease. J Fam Pract. 2000 Jun;49(6):561-6.
citation: Trief PM, Grant W, Elbert K, Weinstock RS. Family environment, glycemic control, and the psychosocial adaptation of adults with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1998 Feb;21(2):241-5. doi: 10.2337/diacare.21.2.241.
citation: Trief PM, Ploutz-Snyder R, Britton KD, Weinstock RS. The relationship between marital quality and adherence to the diabetes care regimen. Ann Behav Med. 2004 Jun;27(3):148-54. doi: 10.1207/s15324796abm2703_2.
citation: Trief PM, Himes CL, Orendorff R, Weinstock RS. The marital relationship and psychosocial adaptation and glycemic control of individuals with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2001 Aug;24(8):1384-9. doi: 10.2337/diacare.24.8.1384.
citation: Trief PM, Wade MJ, Britton KD, Weinstock RS. A prospective analysis of marital relationship factors and quality of life in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2002 Jul;25(7):1154-8. doi: 10.2337/diacare.25.7.1154.
citation: Garfield SA, Malozowski S, Chin MH, Narayan KM, Glasgow RE, Green LW, Hiss RG, Krumholz HM; Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee (DIMCC) Translation Conference Working Group. Considerations for diabetes translational research in real-world settings. Diabetes Care. 2003 Sep;26(9):2670-4. doi: 10.2337/diacare.26.9.2670. No abstract available.
citation: Delamater AM, Jacobson AM, Anderson B, Cox D, Fisher L, Lustman P, Rubin R, Wysocki T; Psychosocial Therapies Working Group. Psychosocial therapies in diabetes: report of the Psychosocial Therapies Working Group. Diabetes Care. 2001 Jul;24(7):1286-92. doi: 10.2337/diacare.24.7.1286.
citation: Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Newton TL. Marriage and health: his and hers. Psychol Bull. 2001 Jul;127(4):472-503. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.127.4.472.
citation: Yorgason JB, Sandberg JG, Weinstock RS, Trief PM, Fisher L, Hessler D. The importance of relationship processes for lowering BMI over time in women with type 2 diabetes in a randomized controlled trial. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2019 Nov-Dec;13(6):599-601. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2019.08.003. Epub 2019 Oct 22.
citation: Trief PM, Fisher L, Sandberg J, Hessler DM, Cibula DA, Weinstock RS. Two for one? Effects of a couples intervention on partners of persons with Type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Diabet Med. 2019 Apr;36(4):473-481. doi: 10.1111/dme.13871. Epub 2019 Jan 8.
citation: Trief PM, Fisher L, Sandberg J, Cibula DA, Dimmock J, Hessler DM, Forken P, Weinstock RS. Health and Psychosocial Outcomes of a Telephonic Couples Behavior Change Intervention in Patients With Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Diabetes Care. 2016 Dec;39(12):2165-2173. doi: 10.2337/dc16-0035. Epub 2016 Jul 25.