Effect of Leventhal’s Self-Regulatory Model on Illness Perception in Women with Gestational Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background and purpose:  Illness perception can affect self-care, mental anxiety, and other health outcomes in individuals. Current study aimed to investigate the effect of Leventhal’s Self-Regulatory Model on illness perception in women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Materials and methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed in women with GDM admitted to prenatal department of Rasht Alzahra Hospital (March-September 2018). Patients were assigned into two groups of control (n=40) and intervention (n=40) using randomized block design. Demographic characteristics were recorded and Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) was completed in both groups. Leventhal’s Self-Regulatory Model was applied in intervention group within three sessions. The IPQ was completed in both groups after the intervention and four weeks later. Results: The scores for illness perception were not found to be significantly different between the two groups before the intervention (P= 0.19). Immediately after the intervention, the mean scores of illness perception were 38.09±6.8 and 43.9±8.6 in intervention and control groups, respectively (P=0.003).One month after that, the mean scores of illness perception in the intervention group (39.3±5.8) were significantly lower than the control group (45.7±6.9) (P<0.001). Conclusion: Using the Leventhal’s self-regulatory model could improve illness perception of women with gestational diabetes, therefore, it could be applied in these women to avoid further consequences.   (Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20171103037191N2)