Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop and determine the effectiveness of a nursing mentoring intervention program for adolescents with type 1 diabetes. A coping skills training program using a group intervention session and online mentoring was providedvia e-mail or telephone over a 12-month period. Ten adolescents and 7 young adults with type 1 diabetes completed this program. The findings suggest that the use of the group-based coping skills training session and mentoring intervention improved the metabolic control of diabetes in adolescents over a 12-month period and facilitated their self-efficacy of diabetes management over a 6-month period. Overall, the adolescents enjoyed the relationship with their mentors during the intervention period. However, there was a significant decrease in the mentoring relationship at 12 months post-session. The online mentoring is not ideal for establishing and maintaining strong connections between mentees and mentors over the long term. Additional research is needed to increase the beneficial effects of mentoring for mentees. The basic structure (e.g., ongoing guidance for mentors and training them to develop strong communication skills, early support for relationship building, and supervision of mentoring relationships) of mentoring programs must be strengthened if they are to be successful.
