NCT02462785

An Evaluation of Internet-based Carbohydrate Counting Education for Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

Carbohydrate Counting and Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Internet-based Teaching for Adolescents Learning to Count

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (actual)
• Sponsor: The Hospital for Sick Children · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 12 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Helping individuals with diabetes to control their blood sugars through self-management is an important goal, and counting carbohydrates (CHO) remains a key part of diabetes education and management. There is very little research examining CHO counting education with adolescents who have type 1 diabetes (T1DM). The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate a newly developed internet-based teaching module of CHO counting for adolescents, ages 12-17 years, with T1DM and who do not regularly CHO count and require instruction. A secondary aim is to assess feasibility for a future, larger-scale clinical trail. An effective web-based CHO counting tutorial could be used to strengthen current diabetes education programs and may serve as a basis for developing other teaching modules. Advantages of web-based teaching include convenience, increased accessibility, and the ability to review and reinforce teaching concepts through repetition. It may also encourage adolescents to take the initiative for their own diabetes care, beginning with a self-directed, active learning experience.

Conditions

• Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	In-person Carbohydrate Counting Class	An in-person carbohydrate counting class led by a registered dietician. The in class session covers topics including the role of CHO in nutrition and diabetes, sources of CHO, different CHO and non-CHO foods, resources for CHO counting, label reading, and meal planning. This is the standard procedure for CHO counting education at SickKids.
BEHAVIORAL	Online Carbohydrate Counting Tutorial	A web-based CHO counting tutorial that covers the same concepts reviewed during the standard in-person instructional session held at SickKids. A teen delivers the educational messages in short segments using techniques designed to maintain the viewer's attention (e.g., visuals of food portions and short segment highlights to emphasize important points). The online module includes brief interactive question/answer components for reinforcement. The secure online tutorial will be accessible for one week through a link provided by REDCap. Users will be able to repeat sessions, log on and off during sessions, and choose specific modules for repetition/review. The investigators will be able to capture the number of times patients log on and detail frequency and specifics of usage.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-07-01
• Primary completion: 2016-04-01
• Completion: 2016-09-01
• First posted: 2015-06-04
• Last updated: 2017-11-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada