Objective: To validate successful diabetes-related behaviors, proposed by a group of experiential experts, and to support people with diabetes in applying for and participating effectively in work.
Methods: In a survey among 77 experiential experts and 21 professional care providers, the behaviors were critically appraised regarding several key characteristics.
Results: Experiential experts (median scores: 91%, 86%, and 86%) and professionals (median scores: 76%, 76%, and 81%) mostly agreed with these behaviors in terms of clarity, content, and relevance, respectively. Feasibility was seen as somewhat problematic, with median scores by experiential experts and professionals of 65% and 52%, respectively.
Conclusion: Both groups confirmed the validity of the proposed work-related behaviors that were expected to support people with diabetes. The challenge is to implement these behaviors in practice, by effective dissemination and incorporation in work-related self-management programs.