Writing for health: a simple way to reduce diabetes distress? — ASN Events
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Writing for health: a simple way to reduce diabetes distress? (#280)

Joanna Crawford 1 2 , Kay Wilhelm 1 2 3 , Judy Proudfoot 2 , Lesley Campbell 4 , Lisa Robins 1 2
  1. Faces in the Street: Urban Mental Health Research Institute, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
  2. School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. Diabetes Services, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Background: The challenge of living with and managing diabetes can lead to diabetes-related distress. There is a need for brief, simple interventions that can assist people with diabetes by enhancing their sense of coping and reducing diabetes distress. Focusing on any positive aspects of living with diabetes (‘benefit-finding’) has been associated with improved diabetes self-care and lower symptoms of depression (1).

 Writing for Health is a brief online program which includes three simple online writing exercises focusing on any positive aspects of experiences with diabetes. We are currently conducting a trial of the Writing for Health program, to examine the efficacy of these brief writing exercises in reducing diabetes distress and improving other outcomes for adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

Aims: The aim of this project is to evaluate the Writing for Health online program for adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Specifically, the project examines the efficacy of Writing for Health’s online writing exercises focusing on positive aspects of diabetes (‘benefit-finding’) in increasing perceived benefits of diabetes and reducing diabetes-related distress.

Method: An online randomised controlled trial (RCT) using the Writing for Health program is currently being conducted.  104 adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes living in Australia will be recruited to the trial.  Participants are randomly allocated to one of two conditions: i) ‘Benefit-finding – looking for positive aspects of living with diabetes or ii) Time management.  The program also includes online self-report measures assessing diabetes-related distress (Diabetes Distress Scale), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), diabetes self-care (Summary of Diabetes Self-Care) and perceived benefits of diabetes.

Results: Preliminary results of the trial and feedback from participants will be presented.

Conclusion:  If found to be helpful, writing exercises focusing on positive aspects of diabetes may be a simple, free and easily accessible way to assist in reducing diabetes distress.

  1. Tran, V., Wiebe, D.J., Fortenberry, K.T., Butler, J.M., Berg, C.A. (2011). Benefit finding, affective reactions to diabetes stress, and diabetes management among early adolescents. Health Psychology, 30(2), 212-219