Nudge-Based Shared Decision Making and Self-Management in Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Trial

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorYunxuan Li

About this trial

This study aims to test whether a communication strategy called "linguistic nudging" can help doctors and patients with type 2 diabetes make better treatment decisions together, and whether this improves patients' ability to manage their condition.

What will happen in the study? - 250 adults with type 2 diabetes from Xiang'an Hospital (Xiamen) will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Intervention group:Doctors will receive special training in "linguistic nudging" techniques to encourage shared decision-making. Patients will use a mobile app to record medication preferences, and doctors will adjust advice based on these preferences.

Control group:Patients will receive standard diabetes care without these additional strategies.

\- All participants will be followed for 6 months.

What is the study aiming to find out?

The main goal is to see if patients in the intervention group:

Better follow medication plans Improve blood sugar monitoring Have better blood sugar control Feel more satisfied with doctor-patient communication

Why is this important? Good self-management is key to controlling diabetes, but many patients struggle with it. Effective communication during shared decision-making may empower patients to manage their condition day-to-day with greater confidence.

Patient safety and rights:

Participation is completely voluntary All personal information will be kept strictly confidential Medical support will be provided if any health problems occur during the study Participants may withdraw at any time

This research has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Xiang'an Hospital (Approval date: October 2025).

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Confirmed diagnosis of type 2 diabetes

Age ≥ 18 years

Normal cognitive function (assessed by Mini-Cog score ≥ 3)

Basic smartphone operation ability (can independently use WeChat)

Disqualifiers

Severe acute complications (e.g., ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar coma)

Documented cognitive impairment (dementia, Alzheimer's, etc.)

Currently participating in other clinical trials

Life expectancy < 6 months

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Linguistic Nudging Training
  • Medication Preference App
  • Standard Diabetes Care

Treatment groups

250 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

Yunxuan Li

Lead sponsor

Xiamen University

Sponsor institution