Group Education Curriculum for Older Teens With Type 1 Diabetes

Evaluation of a Group Curriculum to Improve Self-Management Adherence and Transition Readiness in Older Teens With Type 1 Diabetes

SMART T1D is a research study that offers interactive diabetes education for teens with type 1 diabetes in peer groups led by diabetes nurse educators. Participants in the study will be randomly assigned to either receive three of the group sessions in addition to their routine clinic care or to receive their usual diabetes clinic care.

The objective of this 12-month pilot randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the impact of a 3-session group educational curriculum, compared to standard care, on self-care adherence and transition readiness in adolescents with type 1 diabetes in the Boston Children's Hospital (BCH) Diabetes Program. Adolescents (15-18 years) with T1D will be randomized to receive a 3-session group curriculum ("SMART T1D" - Self-Management, Adherence and Readiness for Transition in T1D) in addition to usual care (intervention group) or to receive usual care with individual diabetes visits (control group) and electronic newsletters to match for attention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Enrolled in the pediatric diabetes clinic at Boston Children's Hospital
• Age 15-18 years at enrollment
• Diabetes duration >1 year
• Ability to speak/read English
• Visits to any BCH Diabetes Program site ≥1 times over the past 6 months
• Hemoglobin A1c at clinic visit prior to enrollment 7.5%-11%

Exclusion Criteria:

• Major medical or psychiatric comorbidities
• Established patients of one of the diabetes nurse educators delivering the intervention