Purpose of Review This review provides a recent update of behavioral research pertinent to young children with T1D and addresses current priorities and future directions. Recent Findings Rates of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in young children (ages 1–7) are continuing to rise. Since 2014, changes to diabetes care and management have impacted young children and reinforced the need for increased attention and interventions to support diabetes management, especially in caregivers who are primarily responsible for their young child’s diabetes management. Summary T1D is associated with unique physiologic challenges in young children, with constant management demands elevating parental diabetes-related stress and fear of hypoglycemia. Diabetes technology use has significantly increased in young children, contributing to improvements in glycemic levels and parent and child psychosocial functioning. Yet despite the positive outcomes demonstrated in select clinical behavioral interventions, research with this young child age group remains limited in scope and quantity.
Young adults with diabetes assume increasing responsibility for communicating with their health care providers, and engaging in high-quality health communication is an integral component of overall diabetes self-management. This article provides an overview of the main features of health communication, factors that may influence communication quality, interventions to promote communication skills, and practical strategies for clinicians working with young adults with diabetes. The review concludes with a comprehensive summary of future directions for health communication research.
Introduction: The transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care is particularly risky for AYAs with T1D. We evaluate preliminary outcomes of a behavioral intervention targeting AYA health communication, T1D self-care, and transition readiness. Methods: 52 AYAs (48.1% male; 48.1% non-Hispanic White; M age=20.63±1.10 yrs) enrolled in Planning, Reflecting, and Engaging with Providers for Diabetes Care (PREP-DC) and were randomized to intervention (Int; n=26) or standard care (SC; n=26) groups. AYAs reported on communication, T1D self-care, and transition readiness at baseline and 4 mos (1 mo post-intervention); A1c was taken from medical records. AYAs rated satisfaction with PREP-DC participation (1-5; 5=extremely satisfied). T-tests examined change from baseline to follow-up and by group. Results: At follow-up, 51 AYAs (98%) completed questionnaires and 37 (71%) had A1c data. AYAs reported improvements in communication, T1D self-care, and transition readiness (Table 1), with few group differences. Both groups reported high satisfaction with participation (Int M=4.41±.59; SC M=4.45±.60). Discussion: AYAs were engaged in a behavioral trial promoting health communication; the Int group did not demonstrate significant improvements as compared to SC. Future analyses will evaluate final follow-up outcomes (8 mos post-intervention), including transfer to adult care. Disclosure M.Monaghan: Employee; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Research Support; American Diabetes Association. B.L.Bryant: None. C.H.Wang: None. J.E.Bost: None. R.Streisand: None. Funding American Diabetes Association (1-18-ACE-27 to M.M.)
Introduction: Emerging adults (EAs) with T1D may be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 related disruptions given the many transitions that occur during this developmental period. The current study examined self-reported challenges in daily routines and T1D care in a sample of EAs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Participants included 22 EAs with T1D (M age=21.6±1.1 yrs; 45.4% male; 40.9% non-Hispanic white; 86.4% enrolled in higher education; 77.3% employed; M A1c=7.8%±1.2%). EAs completed surveys about exposure/personal impact of COVID-19 (n=13), a structured interview (n=2), or both (n=7) during the first 9 months of the COVID-19 pandemic (3/2020 - 11/2020). Results: Most EAs (86.4%) denied COVID-19 symptoms, diagnoses, or hospitalizations in themselves or close contacts; 3 EAs (13.6%) reported COVID-19 diagnoses in family members, with one reported death of a family member. Fifty-five percent of EAs reported strictly social distancing. On the survey, 85% of EAs reported significant disruptions due to COVID-19, including job loss/reduction in hours (45%), education changes (45%), and moving (40%). T1D impact varied, with 50% reporting easier management of T1D; 30% reporting less exercise/worse diet; 30% reporting sleep problems; and 40% reporting more health anxiety. For EAs with more than one instance of survey completion (n=9), diabetes-specific impact worsened over time (t(8)=-2.20, p=.06; Cohen’s d = -.72). Interview data (n=9) supported quantitative results, with themes related to the impact of COVID-19 on daily routines for T1D management and delayed transition to adult T1D care. Discussion: EAs with T1D experienced many COVID-related changes and increasing negative impact on T1D self-care over time. EAs may be particularly vulnerable to the widespread impacts of COVID-19 on employment, education, and receipt of medical care. Future research should examine longitudinal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic to identify EAs who may need additional support or resources for T1D care. Disclosure M. Monaghan: None. B. Bryant: None. C. H. Wang: None. Funding American Diabetes Association/Pathway to Stop Diabetes (1-18-ACE-27 to M.M.)
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.