The Effect of Empowerment Program on Health-Related Quality of Life of Type ۱ Diabetic Adolescents

Background: There is a growing interest on the study and improvement of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Type ۱ diabetes can severely affect HRQOL. Iraqi adolescents with type ۱ diabetes mellitus (T۱DM) have lower quality of life (QOL) compared to their healthy peers.Aim: The present study was performed with aim to assess the effect of an empowerment program on the HRQOL of type ۱ diabetes adolescents.Method: This clinical trial study was performed on۱۶۲ adolescents with T۱DM referred to the Al-Hassan Diabetes Center of Karbala/Iraq in ۲۰۲۱-۲۰۲۲. Firstly, the adolescents’ Empowerment Package was compiled. Then sampling was taken via simple randomization method. The Kidscreen Questionnaire was used for data collection. The implementation of the empowerment program began for the intervention group in the groups of ۱۰ to ۱۵ people and in ۱۰ sessions, three sessions per week. The control group received the routine care. Four weeks after completion of the intervention, the QOL score was again measured and compared in the two groups.Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the Kidscreen scores of the control (۸۸.۷۰±۱۰.۸۰) and intervention (۸۷.۸۹±۹.۵۰) groups (p=۰.۶۲), but this difference was significant in the post-intervention stage (۸۲.۹۰±۸.۰۰ vs ۸۹.۷۰±۸.۸۰) (p<۰.۰۰۱). In the inter-group comparison, paired t-test showed a significant difference in Kidscreen score before and after the intervention in the intervention group (p<۰.۰۰۱) and in the control group (p<۰.۰۰۱).Implications for Practice: We could suggest empowerment in diabetes self-care as a way to increase the QOL of adolescents with type ۱ diabetes.