Effectiveness of Support Resources for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials in Iran

Introduction and Objectives: Type 2 diabetes is a common metabolic disorder worldwide. Health policymakers face challenges in the management of this chronic disease. According to previous studies, due to the complex nature of diabetes, the use of support resources can be effective in improving disease management. The current study aimed to identify the sources of support for patients with type 2 diabetes and to investigate their effectiveness in the outcomes of this disease in Iran. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, a search of articles published in Iranian databases, including SID, ELMNet, IranDoc, and MagIran, was conducted using keywords, including “type 2 diabetes”, “support resources”, and “clinical trials”, in Persian and English languages from March 21, 2001 to February 9, 2020. Finally, 16 articles were retrieved based on the inclusion criteria. Results: According to the findings, support by family members and peers was the most important source of support for patients with type 2 diabetes in Iran. Also, in most studies, the effectiveness of these support resources was desirable in the outcomes of these patients, including HbA1c, quality of life, and self-care behaviors. Conclusion: The findings of the current study showed that family and peer support for type 2 diabetic patients is the most effective source of support for disease management in Iran. However, to obtain reliable evidence for the use of support resources to improve diabetes management, clinical trials with a stronger methodology are needed.