A Novel Approach to Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: The Team Clinic Model

Stabilization of glycemic control and improved quality of life using a shared medical appointment model in adolescents with type 1 diabetes in suboptimal control

“…One larger published adolescent SMA study showed improvement in QOL similar to our SMA pilot, while another larger SMA did not. The SMA methodologically very similar to ours yielded high participant and provider satisfaction, but other outcome data are not yet available.…”

White Coat Adherence in Pediatric Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Who Use Insulin Pumps

“…Intervention strategies will likely be different in content because younger children (and their parents) who demonstrate the propensity to increase adherence as the diabetes clinic visit approaches (eg, increase frequency of visits may be 1 solution), 11 whereas intervention strategies for older children and adolescents might focus on reinitiating or increasing parent involvement, or other novel models of care such as "Team Clinic." 12 The present study has a number of strengths that expand on past research on T1D treatment regimen adherence and specifically, the occurrence of white coat adherence. Previous studies have only examined white coat adherence in children <12 years of age, yet this study extended that age range to include patients as old as 19 years of age, allowing for greater examination of the developmental variability of white coat adherence.…”

New Approaches to Providing Individualized Diabetes Care in the 21st Century

“…In a recent pilot study of a SMA model, the “Team Clinic”, was found to be feasible and acceptable in adolescent patients between 13–18 years of age with T1D [78]. After brief, individual physical exams, patients in groups of 4–6 gathered together to participate in a patient-driven discussion of diabetes topics pertinent to adolescents.…”

“…Group clinics were successfully scheduled in a busy pediatric diabetes center without impacting routine clinic flow, due in part to strategic scheduling during less busy clinic times which optimized clinic space and staff. Participants received increased education when compared to standard visits, and providers were able to provide education to a greater number of patients in a more effective and efficient manner when compared to their usual clinic time [78]. …”

“…They reported feeling more comfortable in clinic, were more willing and at ease asking questions, had high inclination to recommend Team Clinic to others, and described high motivation to return to Team Clinic [78]. These preliminary results suggest adolescents may come to SMAs, or specifically Team Clinics, more willingly and regularly when compared to regular appointments and that they may be more likely to ask for help when needed.…”