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NCT Number: NCT07298837

Turtle Therapy on HbA1c and Self-Efficacy Levels With Type 2 Diabetes

This study examined the effect of live and video turtle therapy on hemoglobin A1c tests and self-efficacy levels in adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus for the first time using pre-test and post-test methods.

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Key information

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Behavior Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Endocrine System Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Human-Animal Bond Human-Animal Interaction Metabolic Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Pet-Human Bonding

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Gümüşhane University

Gümüşhane, 29600, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

In the international literature reviewed, only two studies reported that pet therapy reduced hemoglobin A1c tests and increased self-efficacy in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. One study examined the use of live fish (repeated care behaviors during pet care, such as feeding twice a day and cleaning the aquarium). In the other study, adolescents who owned different types of pets (dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, etc.) were included in the study. In this context, our study will be the first study conducted in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus using live and video turtle therapy at the national and international level. With the theoretical clarification of the methodological steps, this study, which has methodological characteristics, is unique in that it compares live animal (turtle) and video animal (turtle video) therapy in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, making it a pet therapy study conducted both nationally and internationally in both turtles and individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Within the scope of all this information, this study examined the effect of live and video turtle therapy on hemoglobin A1c and self-efficacy levels in adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Being 18 years of age or older,
  • Agreement to participate in the study,
  • Being literate,
  • Being able to communicate verbally,
  • No vision, hearing, or speech impairments,
  • Agreeing to adopt and care for a turtle (turtle group),
  • Ownership of a smartphone, tablet, or computer (video turtle group),
  • Having been diagnosed with T2DM and having been receiving DM treatment for at least 6 months,
  • HbA1c >7%.

Exclusion criteria

  • Refusal to participate in the study,
  • Not having T2DM,
  • Having received DM treatment for less than 6 months,
  • Having a psychiatric disorder diagnosed by a psychiatrist.

Treatment and study plan

Live Turtle Therapy (Pet therapy)

Behavioral

The individuals were asked to take on the responsibility of caring for the turtles. The patients in this group were given one turtle and the necessary materials (aquarium, food, aquarium sand, etc.) for 12 weeks. Within this scope, patients fed the turtles twice a day, once in the morning (08:00) and once in the evening (20:00), and changed the water in the aquarium every two days with water that had been kept at room temperature beforehand. In addition, they were asked to spend 20 minutes a day with the turtle. During the twelve-week (3-month) period in which the individuals took responsibility for turtle care, the "Turtle Monitoring Form" was administered by the executor to evaluate the time spent with the turtle and the implementation of practices related to how they performed turtle care.

Video Turtle Therapy (Pet therapy)

Behavioral

In addition, the consultant faculty member provided approximately 15 minutes of face-to-face information to patients regarding watching the turtle videos. Patients in this group were asked to watch documentaries featuring turtle videos for at least 20 minutes a day for twelve weeks. The "Turtle Viewing Form" was administered by the researcher to determine how many minutes per day the individuals watched the turtle videos.

Primary outcomes

  1. Hemoglobin A1c

    Time frame: 12 week

    Hemoglobin A1c is a clinically useful index of average blood glucose levels over the past 120 days (average red blood cell lifespan). It most accurately reflects glycemic control over the past 2-3 months.

    Hemoglobin A1c was measured twice, before and after the study.

  2. Diabetes Medication Self-Efficacy Scale

    Time frame: 12 week

    Diabetes Medication Self-Efficacy Scale was developed by Sleath and colleagues (2016) to assess self-efficacy in overcoming barriers to diabetes medication use. Its Turkish validity and reliability were established by Kavuran & Türkoğlu (2022) using a 19-item, 3-point Likert-type scale. The scale consists of three subscales: "Requirement" (items 1-4), "Busyness" (items 5-9), and "Worry" (items 10-19). The scale scores range from 19 (low self-efficacy) to 57 (high self-efficacy).

    Diabetes Medication Self-Efficacy Scale was measured twice, before and after the study.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Karadeniz Technical University

Other

Collaborators

  • Gümüşhane Universıty

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Turtle Therapy on HbA1c and Self-Efficacy Levels in Diabetes Medication Use in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Dec 23, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 23, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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