566-P: Is a Zoom, Family-Based Intervention Feasible during a Pandemic?

Abstract

Background: Access to psychosocial services is limited, especially during a pandemic. A Zoom-delivered family-based intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes has the potential to enhance access to psychosocial services. Methods: Nine families enrolled in a pilot of a 6-session online (Zoom) intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected via online focus groups and surveys. Results: Teens’ ages ranged from 12-17 years (M=14.9, SD=1.76) and most self-identified as male (78%). All parents self-identified as female and most families self-identified as non-Hispanic white (78%). Qualitative results revealed that participants found the program to be generally helpful and would recommend the program to others. Perceived benefits included increased parental empathy toward teens, enhanced parental involvement in teens’ diabetes management, and decreased parent-teen conflict. Participants conveyed that these benefits were particularly impactful given increased family contact and tensions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Identified areas for improvement included adding follow-up group sessions with parents to maintain program impact on parenting over time and to target teens in early adolescence, when family dynamics are more malleable. Quantitative results from paired t-tests of pre-post comparisons revealed no significant differences in teen or parental diabetes distress or depression (all p>0.05), but should be interpreted with caution due to small sample size. Conclusions: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents responded positively to this program and found it particularly relevant during the current pandemic. Zoom delivery of these programs may be instrumental in their feasibility, acceptability, and ultimately dissemination in the future. Disclosure J. J. Wong: None. M. S. Lanning: None. J. Ngo: None. C. A. Wu: None. S. Hanes: None. H. M. Linzmeyer: None. D. Naranjo: None. K. K. Hood: Consultant; Self; Cecelia Health, Cercacor, LifeScan Diabetes Institute. Funding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (1K23DK121771-01A1)