Family Models of Diabetes Self-Management Education: The Current Evidence and Critical Gaps in Knowledge

Abstract

This commentary outlines the effectiveness of family-centred models of diabetes self-management education (Family-DSME) interventions and identifies five considerable gaps in the available literature that are keeping Family-DSME interventions from being translated into clinical practice. These include: (a) confounding effects of including cultural tailoring in many Family-DSME studies; (b) variations in duration and dosage of Family-DSME interventions; (c) most studies failing to assess the effects of Family-DSME on the included family members; (d) lack of cost-effectiveness data; and (e) lack of implementation research on Family-DSME interventions. It is crucial that clinical researchers focus efforts on filling the gaps in knowledge that constrain Family-DSME from being translated into clinical practice.