The effect of the healthy lifestyle 'empowerment program' on care burden and adherence to health-promoting behaviours on mothers of children with type 1 diabetes.

• Intervention group showed significant improvement in health-promoting behaviours (p = 0.027) while control group behaviours decreased (p = 0.017)
• Care burden was reduced in the intervention group immediately after and 12 weeks post-intervention, while control group care burden increased significantly (p = 0.000)
• Program consisted of four weekly 45-60 minute educational sessions
• Study included 64 mothers randomly assigned to intervention (n=32) and control (n=32) groups
• Measurements taken at baseline, immediately after intervention, and 12 weeks post-intervention

Limitations

The study was conducted in one city (Tehran) with only 64 participants, which limits generalisability to other settings and populations. The document does not provide details on the specific content of the educational sessions or long-term sustainability of the effects beyond 12 weeks.

Abstract

Mothers caring for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) face significant care burdens requiring effective interventions. This study evaluated the impact of a Healthy Lifestyle Empowerment Program (HLEP) on care burden and adherence to health-promoting behaviours in these mothers. In this experimental study in Tehran (2024), 64 mothers of children with T1D were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 32) and control (n = 32) groups. The intervention group participated in four weekly 45-60-min educational sessions focusing on health-promoting behaviours. Data were collected using the Caregiver Burden Index (CBI) and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) at baseline, immediately after and 12 weeks post-intervention. Data were analysed using SPSS v.18. The intervention group showed a significant reduction in care burden immediately and 12 weeks after HLEP (p = 0.311), while their health-promoting behaviours improved significantly over time (p = 0.027). Conversely, the control group experienced increased care burden (p = 0.000) and decreased health-promoting behaviours (p = 0.017). HLEP effectively reduced the care burden and enhanced health-promoting behaviours among mothers of children with T1D. The incorporation of such empowerment programs into healthcare services is recommended to support caregivers managing chronic illnesses.