Observational studyPloS one2015
Social Support and Health in Diabetes Patients: An Observational Study in Six European Countries in an Era of Austerity.
Observational study in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Social Network Interventions for Improving Dietary Adherence Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review.Nutrition reviews · 2026Pooled it
- Correlates and determinants of physical activity among older adults of lower versus higher socio-economic status: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2025Pooled it
- Feasibility and acceptability of the cross-national multisectoral OPTIM-PARK intervention for people affected with Parkinson's disease and their family carers.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Experiences of Formal and Informal Support Among Adult-Daughter Caregivers of People With Dementia in Sweden: A Qualitative Study.Dementia (London, England) · 2026Article
- Risk of End-Stage Kidney Disease in Individuals with Diabetes Living Alone: A Large-Scale Population-Based Study.Diabetes & metabolism journal · 2025Article
- Recommendations for Designing a Digital Health Tool for Blindness Prevention Among High-Risk Diabetic Retinopathy Patients: Qualitative Focus Group Study of Adults With Diabetes.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- The Impact of Diabetes Self-Care, Healthy Lifestyle, Social Support, and Demographic Variables on Outcomes HbA1c in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.Clinical medicine insights. Endocrinology and diabetes · 2025Article
- ' … You become a prisoner of your life': A qualitative study exploring the experience of joint pain and accessing care in Hai, Tanzania.SSM. Qualitative research in health · 2024Article
- Social network interventions for dietary adherence among adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Relationship between diabetes health literacy, distress, burnout, social support, complications, self-care behaviors, and quality of life among patients with type 2 diabetes: a path analysis study.Diabetology & metabolic syndrome · 2024Article
- Use of Online Communities among People with Type 2 Diabetes: A Scoping Review.Current diabetes reports · 2024Article
- "Systems seem to get in the way": a qualitative study exploring experiences of accessing and receiving support among informal caregivers of people living with chronic kidney disease.BMC nephrology · 2024Article
- It's all about connection: Determinants of social support and the influence on HIV treatment interruptions among people living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Understanding support systems for Parkinson's disease management in community settings: A cross-national qualitative study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2023Article
- The Determinants of Living with Long-Term Conditions: An International Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Observational
- Social networks and type 2 diabetes: a narrative review.Diabetologia · 2021Review
- Effectiveness of Positive Deviance Approach to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.Risk management and healthcare policy · 2021Article
- The relationship between social roles and psychosocial adjustment in women with HIV: A structural equation model.Brain and behavior · 2021Article
- Management, Levels of Support, Quality of Life, and Social Inclusion in Parkinson's Disease: Interventions, Innovation, and Practice Development.Parkinson's disease · 2021Article
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionSupport from individual social networks, community organizations and neighborhoods is associated with better self-management and health outcomes. This international study examined the relative impact of different types of support on health and health-related behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes.
methodsObservational study (using interviews and questionnaires) in a sample of 1,692 type 2 diabetes patients with 5,433 connections from Bulgaria, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Outcomes were patient-reported health status (SF-12), physical exercise (RAPA), diet and smoking (SDCSCA). Random coefficient regression models were used to examine linkages with individual networks, community organizations, and neighborhood type (deprived rural, deprived urban, or affluent urban).
resultsPatients had a median of 3 support connections and 34.6% participated in community organizations. Controlled for patients' age, sex, education, income and comorbidities, large emotional support networks were associated with decrease of non-smoking (OR = 0.87). Large practical support networks were associated with worse physical and mental health (B = -0.46 and -0.27 respectively) and less physical activity (OR = 0.90). Participation in community organizations was associated with better physical and mental health (B = 1.39 and 1.22, respectively) and, in patients with low income, with more physical activity (OR = 1.53). DISCUSSION: Participation in community organizations was most consistently related to better health status. Many diabetes patients have individual support networks, but this study did not provide evidence to increase their size as a public health strategy. The consistent association between participation in community organizations and health status provides a clear target for interventions and policies.
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