The Effect of Virtual coping skills training on self-efficacy of adolescents with type 1 diabetes during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: A pilot study

Background: Type 1 diabetes patients may find it difficult to cope with diabetes-related stress, which can be improved by accessible interventions. Objective: The goal of this study was to determine whether coping skill training could increase self-efficacy among adolescents with type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The study population was adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at Tehran Diabetes Center during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown from June to August 2021. Sixteen adolescents with type 1 diabetes were selected using a purposeful sampling method. The participants were divided into experimental (n=9) and control groups (n=7). The measurement tool was the General Self-Efficacy Scale. A total of eight sessions of coping skill training took place for the experimental group; no intervention was performed for the control group. A multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing SPSS, Version 23. Results: There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of age sex, and baseline score of self-efficacy. In the posttest, self-efficacy score significantly improved in the intervention (71.52, SD=13.86) compared to the control group (48.13, SD=12.96) (F=18.97, P<0.001, η2=0.59). Conclusion: According to this study, adolescents with type 1 diabetes who received training in coping skills showed increased self-efficacy. As a result, it can be concluded that adolescents with type 1 diabetes need coping skills training interventions, including self-management support.