Nurse-Led Programs Focusing on Social Support for People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Nurse-led programs have a determinant role in the engagement of individuals in the self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as they contribute to improving quality of life. Self-management assisted by social support is vital, especially as it describes the importance of nurses in promoting health for people with T2DM, as this intervention can help reduce the consequences and progression of the disease. Objective: To map programs focused on nurse-led social support for people with T2DM. Materials and Methods: This is a scoping review in line with the methodological guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The search descriptors used were “autocuidado” (self-care), “intervenção liderada por enfermeiro” (nurse-led intervention), and “diabetes mellitus tipo 2” (type 2 diabetes mellitus), with searches in the Web of Science, Medline, CINAHL, Capes Theses and Dissertations Catalog, Scopus, JBI Evidence Synthesis, PsycINFO, and the Portuguese Open Access Scientific Repositories databases conducted between February and March 2022. The eligibility criteria were studies published within the last 10 years, in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, covering the individual’s experience in programs focused on self-management through nurse-led social support. Results: A total of 12 studies were included, all of which were published in the United States, England, and Iran, focusing on social support for self-management in people with T2DM, and centered on care facilities for people with chronic diseases. It was found that most nurse-led programs have been implemented in developed countries and that their main characteristic is their emphasis on social cognitive theory. The population was characterized by being mostly women, aged over 22, with a low level of education. Conclusions: The study met the proposed objective by demonstrating that, despite the low implementation cost with high social and economic returns, the development of these programs is still scarce. The need for further studies focusing on emotional levels, such as depression and anxiety, is highlighted.