The Effect of Social Learning Intervention on Metabolic Control of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in Adolescents

Abstract

This paper reports the results of an experimental study modeled after a study conducted by Kaplan et al. ¹ The hypothesis tested was: Adolescents who receive a social learning intervention (SLI) will show greater improvement in metabolic control of their diabetes than will adolescents who receive only traditional diabetes instruction. Thirty-four adoles cents between the ages of 12 and 16 who attended a midwestern camp were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups attended a daily 1-hour teaching session about diabetes. Later each day, the experimental group received an SLI consisting of role modeling to help the subjects circumvent peer pressure. To determine metabolic control, HbA₁ values were determined before and 3¹/₂ months after the intervention. The control group showed no signif icant difference in HbA₁ values, while the experimental group showed a decrease in metabolic control.

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