Effect of Motivational Interviewing on Glycemic Control, Diabetes Distress and Self-efficacy among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Ethiopia: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Aim: to assess the effects of Motivational interviewing (MI) on HbA1C, diabetes distress and self-efficacy among patients with Type 2 diabetes(T2D) in Tigray in 2023/2024. Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental design among 160 adult patients with type 2 diabetes. Glycemic control was assessed using HbA1c test, while data on self-efficacy and diabetes distress were collected using validated and standardized Problem Area in Diabetes (PAID and Diabetes Self-efficacy (DSE) scales. Data analyses were performed using nonparametric tests and Difference in Difference (DID) analysis method. Statistical significance was set at p-value of <0.05. Result: A Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that the HbA1C level, diabetes distress and self-efficacy scores were reduced and increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group [8.0 (6, 15) vs 8.0 (5, 12); P < 0.001], [9.0 (4, 20) vs 5.5 (0, 17); P = 0.008], and [25.0 (16, 29) to 28.0 (16, 31); P < 0.001], respectively. The Difference in Difference (DID) analysis also revealed that Motivational interviewing significantly decreased HbA1c level with-1.5 (P= 0.01), decreased diabetes distress and increased self-efficacy with -3.32 (P < 0.001) and 3.41 (P= 0.008),), respectively, for the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that compared to routine diabetes education, Motivational interviewing intervention significantly reduced HbA1C, diabetes distress and improved self-efficacy. Key words: Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetes Distress, self-efficacy, glycemic control, motivational interviewing