A Nonrandomized Pilot of a Group, Video-Based Telehealth Intervention to Reduce Diabetes Distress in Parents of Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

ObjectivesOur aim in this study was to refine and pilot a video-based telehealth intervention to reduce diabetes distress, depressive symptoms and hypoglycemia fear in parents of school-age children with type 1 diabetes and to assess for changes in child glycated hemoglobin (A1C). MethodsWe recruited 41 parents of children (5 to 12 years) to participate in a manualized, video-based telehealth intervention (Cognitive Adaptions to Reduce Emotional Stress [CARES]). Of these, 29 parents completed either a 12-week (n=13) or 8-week (n=16) version of CARES based on the timing of their recruitment. We assessed feasibility (i.e. attrition, attendance) and parent satisfaction with CARES. We used repeated-measures analysis of variance with parent group (8 vs 12 sessions) as a between-subject variable and time as a within-subject variable to measure change in our dependent variables. ResultsMostly mothers participated (97.3%). Parents’ mean age was 39.65±6.84 years and children’s mean age was 9.86±1.57 years at pretreatment. CARES had low attrition (20% to 25%) and good attendance (96% to 98%). Parents also reported high levels of treatment satisfaction (>85%). There were significant main effects for time for parent-reported diabetes distress and depressive symptoms at posttreatment and 3-month follow-up. There was a statistical trend suggesting a time × group interaction for parent depressive symptoms at posttreatment. There was a significant main effect for time for hypoglycemia fear at the 3-month follow-up but no change at posttreatment. There was no change in child A1C at posttreatment. ConclusionCARES showed high parent satisfaction, good feasibility and promising results for reducing diabetes distress in parents of school-age children with type 1 diabetes.