Group Interventions: Emerging Applications for Diabetes Care: Preface

Abstract

Human beings are social creatures who gather together for work and play. Thus, the emergence of groups as a health care delivery method is not surprising. Providing services to patients in groups may not be a panacea for what ails the health care system today, but emerging evidence suggests that groups may have an impact in making diabetes health services more accessible and perhaps more effective. In this From Research to Practice Section, we explore the use of group interventions in three areas of diabetes care: behavioral counseling, education, and medical care. Mental health providers and behavioral therapists have long recognized the added value of groups when seeking improved psychological and behavioral outcomes for people with diabetes. Thus, an extensive research literature examines the effectiveness of groups dedicated to psychology and counseling for people with diabetes. Group interaction appears to provide emotional support while lessening feelings of isolation and stigmatism that are associated with some chronic illnesses. The broad spectrum of activities and ages affected by group interventions reflects the confidence mental health clinicians have in this form of intervention. Nicole van der Ven, Msc, (p. 88) thoroughly reviews the literature on the use of groups for counseling and support and as an adjunct to medical therapy. Some therapeutic group interventions that were developed by psychologists also provide significant diabetes education, and van der Ven addresses these within her article. One example is Blood Glucose Awareness Training,1 an 8-week course that provides important diabetes education regarding recognition of both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic symptoms and follows a typical psychoeducational format including group discussion, cognitive restructuring, stress management, and homework. Research on the use of …