Habit Formation for Diabetes Self-Management

Primary outcomes

1. Change in Diabetes Self-Care

   Time frame: 13 weeks

   The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) is a self-report questionnaire of DSM (diet, exercise, blood-glucose monitoring, foot care, and smoking) for which individuals report frequency of activities during the past 7 days (Toobert et al., 2000). A global self-care behavior score (average of items 1-10) was reported in days per week the participant executed self-care activities. In addition, combined subscales were used for general diet, specific diet, exercise, and blood glucose testing using a global average of items 1-8, reported in days per week. As part of baseline phase data collection (Phase A), the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) was administered once weekly for 4 weeks. Following the initial evaluation, interventions (phase B) were provided to participants once per week for 10 weeks and began with administration of the SDSCA.

2. Change in Behavior Automaticity

   Time frame: 10 weeks

   The Self-Report Behavior Automaticity Index SRBAI is a measure of habit strength and automaticity. Individuals respond how they perform a target behavior using a 7-point scale, with 7 meaning a better outcome. The initial evaluation session closed the baseline phase (Phase A) and initiated the intervention phase (Phase B) of the study. In this initial session, individuals were guided in setting a context-specific implementation intention for habit formation of a simple occupational habit related to nutrition. These nutrition intentions were utilized to create target behaviors for the Self-Report Behavioral Automaticity Index (SRBAI), which was administered at the end of the first session. Following the initial evaluation, interventions were provided to participants once per week for 10 weeks and began with administration of the SRBAI.