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Multisystemic Therapy Compared to Telephone Support for Youth with Poorly Controlled Diabetes: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Few interventions have effectively improved health outcomes among youth with diabetes in chronic poor metabolic control.

Purpose

This study aims to determine whether multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive, home-based, tailored family treatment, was superior to weekly telephone support for improving regimen adherence and metabolic control among adolescents with chronic poor metabolic control.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 146 adolescents with types 1 or 2 diabetes. Data were collected at baseline, 7 months (treatment termination), and 12 months (6 months follow-up).

Results

Adolescents receiving MST had significantly improved metabolic control at 7 (1.01 % decrease) and 12 months (0.74 % decrease) compared to adolescents in telephone support. Parents of adolescents receiving MST reported significant improvements in adolescent adherence. However, adolescent-reported adherence was unchanged.

Conclusions

MST improved health outcomes among adolescents with chronic poor metabolic control when compared to telephone support. Home-based approaches may provide a viable means to improve access to behavioral interventions for such youth.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by grant #R01 DK59067 from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The authors would like to acknowledge Yuanjing Ren for her assistance with preparation of data for use in the analyses.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Three of the authors are board members of Evidence Based Services, which has a licensing agreement with MST Services, LLC, for dissemination of multisystemic therapy treatment technology. There are no other potential author conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Deborah A. Ellis Ph.D., Sylvie Naar-King Ph.D., Xinguang Chen M.D., Ph.D., Kathleen Moltz M.D. & April Idalski-Carcone Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    Phillippe B. Cunningham Ph.D.

  3. Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Old Hutzel Hospital W534, 4707 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI, USA

    Deborah A. Ellis Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Deborah A. Ellis Ph.D.
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  2. Sylvie Naar-King Ph.D.
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  3. Xinguang Chen M.D., Ph.D.
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  4. Kathleen Moltz M.D.
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  5. Phillippe B. Cunningham Ph.D.
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  6. April Idalski-Carcone Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deborah A. Ellis Ph.D..

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Ellis, D.A., Naar-King, S., Chen, X. et al. Multisystemic Therapy Compared to Telephone Support for Youth with Poorly Controlled Diabetes: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial. ann. behav. med. 44, 207–215 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9378-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9378-1

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