Exploring and Developing a New Culturally-Appropriate Diabetes Distress Scale in Taiwan.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a new diabetes distress scale suitable for Chinese and Taiwanese culture. Methods: This study collected the current diabetes distress measurement tools, re-organized current definitions about the domains of diabetes distress, and then developed a new tool. Three hundred and ninety-five participants from four hospitals in northern Taiwan were recruited by cluster randomized sampling for validity test. Results: We found the new diabetes distress scale had appropriate reliability and validity, including an acceptable model fit for the 12-item scale. Conclusions: This new diabetes distress scale might be more directly related to emotional distress issues blood glucose control, improve the clinical conspicuity of diabetes distress, and even benefit the overall care of diabetic patients in Taiwan. Further studies about the validity and reliability of this new tool in a nationwide setting are needed.

Under COVID-19 Pandemic: A Quasi-Experimental Trial of Observation on Diabetes Patients' Health Behavior Affected by the Pandemic From a Coaching Intervention Program.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of diabetes self-management and HbA1c affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the epidemic prevention work. Methods: This quasi-experimental study collected a pooled data from a randomized-control study between February and May 2020 in which 114 participants who presented type 2 diabetes were recruited. The intervention group had health coaching and usual care, whereas the control had usual care only. The main outcome variables of this observation study were the change of HbA1c, physical activity, and eating out behavior within this time interval. Results: We found that the eating out behavior of both groups had decreased, and if a health coach helped the patients set physical activity goals in the two groups, the physical activity behavior will not be impacted due to the pandemic. Conclusions: While every country is focusing on COVID-19 pandemic prevention, especially when strict home quarantine measures and social distancing are adopted, reminding and assisting chronic patients to maintain good self-management behavior may lessen the social and medical system burdens caused by the deterioration of chronic conditions due to the excessive risk prevention behavior and the epidemic prevention work. Trial Registration: www.isrctn.com, identifier number: ISRCTN14167790, date: 12 July, 2019.