The Effect of Web-based Diabetes Education on the Metabolic Control, Self-efficacy and Quality of Life of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Turkey

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine whether web-based diabetes education is effective in improving metabolic control, self-efficacy for diabetes self-management, and quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Turkey. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus who were registered in the pediatric endocrinology polyclinic of a university hospital in the western region of Turkey. A total of 32 were included in the control group who received diabetes education in a clinical setting, and 30 were included in the intervention group who received web-based diabetes education. Although the adolescents in the control group received standard medical care as usual, with no participation on the website, those in the intervention group were also educated on diabetes management by using the web site. Results: For self-efficacy, a statistically significant difference between the groups was found. Regarding the group, time, and group-time interaction for quality of life, a statistically significant difference was found between the mean scores of the groups. Web-based education was found to be effective in increasing the quality-of-life mean scores when compared with the standard care provided for the adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus, with the intervention group having a higher quality of life than the control group. Conclusion: We found that the web-based diabetes education program had no effect on A1C levels, but the education model effectively increased the self-efficacy and quality of life of adolescents with diabetes.