Habit and Routine Interventions with Emerging Adults with Diabetes: An Integrative Review.

Although theoretical and empirical writings on habits and routines are a promising body of science to guide interventions, little is known about such interventions among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. Thus, an integrative review was conducted to describe interventions in relation to habits and routines, their influence on outcomes, and users' perspectives. A medical librarian conducted a search. Teams screened titles, abstracts, and articles based upon predefined criteria. Evidence from the final 11 articles was synthesized. A minority of investigators explicitly articulated habits and routines theoretical underpinnings as part of the interventions. However, text messaging or feedback via technology used in other interventions could be implicitly linked to habits and routines. For the most part, these interventions positively influenced diabetes self-management-related behaviors and health outcomes. In general, the interventions were perceived positively by users. Future research is advocated using habit and routine theoretical underpinnings to guide interventions.

Habits and Routines during Transitions among Emerging Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

To provide insight into poorly understood diabetes self-management among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes (TID) experiencing transitions, this study described their diabetes self-management-related habits, routines, and disruptions as well as explored relationships among habits and routines. A qualitative study, guided by critical incidence technique, was conducted. Participants were asked to describe situations when they did and did not check blood glucose, administer insulin, eat meals, and exercise as planned. They were also asked to describe activities in a typical day and in association with diabetes self-management. Content analysis with a priori definitions of habits and routines was performed. Participants described diabetes self-management-related transitional disruption as forgetting and disorder. They described habits associated with checking a blood glucose, giving an insulin dose, eating a meal, and initiating exercise. They described routines in association with meals, exercise, and overall diabetes management. These findings provide information on variables to target in intervention research.