Effectiveness of school-based programs for type 2 diabetes mellitus prevention for school children and adolescents: A systematic review protocol

Objective: The objective of this review will be to synthesize the effectiveness of school-based programs for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevention for school children and adolescents. Introduction: Schools function as a fundamental platform for communicating health-related knowledge, such as information on preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes. However, the effectiveness of school-based programs for preventing T2DM in children and adolescents remains unclear. Inclusion criteria: This review will consider both experimental and quasi-experimental study designs, including randomized controlled trials, cluster randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, before and after studies, and interrupted time-series studies. School children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years (in Grades 1 to 12) of any ethnicity will be considered. This review will consider studies on T2DM prevention and education programs in school settings. Comparators will include no treatment, standard care, or waitlist controls, with outcomes covering diabetes risk factors, knowledge, health literacy, insulin sensitivity, fasting blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin. These parameters will be assessed using validated instruments. Methods: This review will follow the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness. The databases to be searched will include MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Two independent reviewers will select studies, critically appraise them using the standard JBI critical appraisal instruments, and extract data. Studies will be pooled in a meta-analysis or presented narratively. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to grade the certainty of the evidence. Review registration: PROSPERO CRD42024499998.