Randomised controlled trials with a pre-test/post-test design that evaluated a diabetes self-management programme compared with no intervention in adults (at least 18 years) with type 2 diabetes were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes of interest were of challenging behaviour, well being, clinical and process. Studies that focused on only one self-management component were excluded, as were those that only published clinical parameters as outcome measures (self-management interventions aimed primarily at changing behaviour may not necessarily result in clinical improvements).
The 14 included studies were conducted in North America, Sweden, South Korea, Thailand and UK (four studies). Three studies included only women and three studies targeted specific ethnic populations. The included interventions were one-on-one, group or combined interventions. Interventions involved learning (information/education), planning (create a self-management plan) and practising (practice self-management behaviours). All control groups received usual care.
The authors did not state how many reviewers selected studies for inclusion.