Abstract
This research explores if a social marketing intervention model based on social representations theory and the health belief model can generate changes regarding treatment adherence and improve patient self-efficacy. As a pilot, a test–retest field quasi-experiment was designed to evaluate the intervention model with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) patients of families with 8- to 17-year-old children. The intervention model was designed to clarify misconceptions, increase awareness of the benefits of following doctors’ treatments and improve patients’ self-efficacy. In-depth interviews were carried out to gain a richer understanding of the intervention’s effect. The pilot intervention generated a favourable change in shared misconceptions, individual health beliefs, glycaemic control and declared treatment adherence. This paper contributes to the social marketing literature and public health by providing early support for the theoretical assumptions regarding the role of shared misconceptions in physiological and behavioural outcomes for patients with T1DM. Contrary to previous studies, instead of only focusing on individual beliefs, this study incorporates shared beliefs between patients and caregivers, generating more comprehensive behavioural change.
Highlights
The McNemar test was employed to analyse whether there was a significant modification of the shared misconception (SF) before and after the social marketing intervention
In line with this proposal, approaching health problems through the lens of the social representations theory (SRT) seems to be relevant when dealing with shared misconceptions that are hindering the change in behaviours pursued by social marketing
In most studies examining the effect of educational interventions on Haemoglobin A1c levels (HbA1c), there was no evidence of greater effectiveness of educational interventions provided as part of standard care
Summary
The International Diabetes Federation [1] estimates that over 1,110,100 children and adolescents globally live with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). People with diabetes have a high probability of developing serious heart ailments and infections. Following long-duration diabetes, microvascular and macrovascular complications occur [2]. T1DM cannot be prevented, it can be controlled by adhering to a prescribed treatment protocol (insulin, diet, exercise and self-monitoring). Children with T1DM can live a long and healthy life if the condition is detected early and they adhere to complex, multicomponent regimens [3]. Children and adolescents do not follow all of their physicians’ directives either because of the complexity of regimens [4] or because, due to their ages, they are unable to understand the consequences of not following physicians’
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
