Descriptions of diabetes burnout from individuals with Type 1 diabetes: an analysis of YouTube videos

Abstract

AimThe purpose of the study was to analyse self‐descriptions of diabetes burnout in individuals with Type 1 diabetes via YouTube videos.MethodsIn this qualitative descriptive study, a systematic approach was used to search YouTube videos with a title, description or content specifically about diabetes burnout dated between 2007 and 2017. Irrelevant or duplicated videos were excluded using eligibility criteria. All videos meeting inclusion criteria (n = 32) from individuals with Type 1 diabetes were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a qualitative content analysis approach. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse video characteristics.ResultsThe four major themes associated with diabetes burnout were: (i) feeling mentally drained and physically tired of dealing with self‐care; (ii) experiencing a detachment from self, diabetes care and support system; (iii) being powerless and paralysed to ‘climb out’ of diabetes burnout; and (iv) contributing potential factors to diabetes burnout.ConclusionsSelf‐descriptions of diabetes burnout suggest that it is a combination of emotions and behaviours on a spectrum from exhaustion to detachment accompanied by an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. More studies are needed to further clarify diabetes burnout and its distinction from, or overlap with, other related psychosocial concepts in diabetes care.

Development and validation of a scale to measure diabetes burnout

“…In our earlier studies similar to other studies individuals with T1D often described their experience with T1D as being like a “full-time job.” [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] We additionally saw other parallels to the existing literature around occupational burnout describing burnout as exhaustion, cynicism and professional inefficacy. [27] , [28] For example, the similarity of Maslach burnout theory and our conceptualization of diabetes burnout in terms of their three-dimension structure has been demonstrated in our preliminary research.…”

“…To expand existing science on diabetes burnout, our interdisciplinary research team conducted several exploratory studies to examine diabetes burnout among adults with T1D. [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] These preliminary studies refined our understanding of diabetes burnout as it manifests in adults with T1D, and helped establish main dimensions of the concept. According to our findings, we conceptualize diabetes burnout as a multidimensional concept comprising three distinct but related dimensions including exhaustion, detachment, and loss of control over one’s illness that can form different burnout profiles.…”

“…Detachment often manifests as apathy, with an individual consciously ignoring almost all or the most challenging aspects of self-care behaviors (i.e., insulin injection, pump exchange, blood glucose monitoring, carb counting) which can result in elevated HbA1c levels, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), missed appointments, emergency department visits, or hospitalization if such detachment is of extended duration. [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] …”

“…Currently available validated instruments primarily focus on assessment of diabetes distress [32] , [33] or depressive symptoms [34] while individuals with diabetes describe diabetes burnout as a unique experience. Althogh, a conceptual overlap between powerlessness subscale in T1-DDS and Loss of control in diabetes burnout has been identified in recent studies, [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] where both measures include items assessing emotional burden of diabetes. We argue that existing diabetes distress measurements (i.e., Problem Areas in Diabetes Scales [PAID] [33] or Type 1- Diabetes Distress Scale [T1-DDS] 32 ) do not assess the unique dimensions of diabetes burnout.…”

Diabetes Resilience Training on Self-Care, Glycemic Control, and Diabetes Burnout of Adult Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…This condition can be a cause for the client to not comply with the given regimen. This can be exacerbated by unstable emotional involvement over failure to follow the regimen even though the patient has tried to adhere to the advice given (S. Abdoli, Hessler, Vora, Smither, & Stuckey, 2019). Burnout can also be caused by lack of support systems, lack of knowledge, fear of diabetes and lifestyle changes (Wingert, Johnson, & Melton, 2015).…”