Abstract
Background: Studies have shown that adolescents find diabetes management difficult and struggle with incorporating diabetes management into their daily life. A focus on issues adolescents perceive as important is necessary when designing high quality interventions aimed at improving health outcomes for adolescents with T1D. The present study aimed to provide: (1) a broad comprehensive reflection on issues adolescents with diabetes perceive as important; (2) a basis for developing a ‘Family Mirror’, specifically designed to generate dialogue in families with an adolescent with T1D. Methods: The qualitative data originate from 11 workshops with a total of 47 adolescents with diabetes between 8 and 18 years of age. Data were systematically analyzed. Results: Seven overarching, empirical themes were identified that provided an outline of aspects important to adolescents living with T1D: (1) Support, (2) Understanding, (3) Worries, (4) Limitations, (5) Independence, (6) Perceptions, and (7) Management. Several empirical indicators elaborated on the themes, thus creating a comprehensive reflection of life with T1D during adolescence. Conclusions: Given our comprehensive and broad approach to uncovering key aspects adolescents with diabetes perceive as important, we trust that the findings can be used as a basis for designing interventions intended for adolescents with T1D.
Highlights
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common chronic illnesses in childhood and adolescence [1], and its incidence is increasing worldwide [2]
Given our comprehensive and broad approach to uncovering key aspects adolescents with diabetes perceive as important, we trust that the findings can be used as a basis for designing interventions intended for adolescents with T1D
The data used in the present exploratory study originate from 11 needs assessment workshops with adolescents conducted by Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (SDCC) in three separate, yet similar, studies aiming to reveal the challenges and facilitators perceived by adolescents living with T1D
Summary
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common chronic illnesses in childhood and adolescence [1], and its incidence is increasing worldwide [2]. Studies have shown that adolescents, in particular, find diabetes management difficult and demanding [1,4,5,6] They struggle with incorporating diabetes management into their daily life [7,8,9], and with the feeling of being different from their peers [5,10]. Studies have shown that adolescents find diabetes management difficult and struggle with incorporating diabetes management into their daily life. The present study aimed to provide: (1) a broad comprehensive reflection on issues adolescents with diabetes perceive as important; (2) a basis for developing a ‘Family Mirror’, designed to generate dialogue in families with an adolescent with T1D. Conclusions: Given our comprehensive and broad approach to uncovering key aspects adolescents with diabetes perceive as important, we trust that the findings can be used as a basis for designing interventions intended for adolescents with T1D
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