A randomized control trial of the effect of negotiated telephone support on glycaemic control in young people with Type 1 diabetes

Aim To evaluate changes in self‐efficacy for self‐management in young people with Type 1 diabetes participating in a ‘Negotiated Telephone Support’ (NTS) intervention developed using the principles of problem solving and social learning theory. Methods One‐year RCT with 79 young people (male 39; mean age ± sd 16.5 ± 3.2 years, duration 6.7 ± 4.4 years, HbA1c 8.6 ± 1.5%) randomized into: Group 1 (control group), continued routine management, n = 28; Group 2, continued routine management with NTS, n = 25; Group 3, annual clinic with NTS, n = 26. Outcome measures: HbA1c, self‐efficacy, barriers to adherence, problem solving, and diabetes knowledge. Results There were no differences between the groups at baseline. Participants in Groups 2 and 3 received an average of 16 telephone calls/year (range 5–19), median duration 9 min (2–30), with a median interval of 3 weeks (1–24) between calls. Significant correlations were found between age and average length of call (r = 0.44, P