Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a standardized bi-weekly six-month telephone coaching intervention for parents of children with type 1 diabetes.
Methods: This single-blind randomized controlled trial followed participants for 12 months. The primary outcome was children's health-related quality of life. Secondary outcomes included treatment adherence, diabetes-related family conflict, and hemoglobin A1c. Data was collected using validated questionnaires and health records. We compared groups using a linear mixed effects model.
Results: 102 families were randomized (control: n = 49; intervention: n = 53). Coaching had no impact on children's overall health-related quality of life or overall secondary outcomes; however, there were patterns in subsections that suggest the possible impact of coaching. Coaching was perceived as a positive addition to routine care by 80% of families and 82% would recommend working with a coach to another family. 58% of participants would continue coaching beyond the study.
Conclusion: Coaching did not impact overall quality of life or secondary outcomes; however, coaching was well received by families who perceived significant benefits. Patterns in subsections warrant further study.
Practice implications: Adding a health coach into diabetes multidisciplinary care supports families in a way that is unique from their routine clinical care.
Keywords: Coaching; Communication; Diabetes mellitus, type 1; Pediatrics; Quality of life.
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