Using Partnerships to Create a Medical Specialty Camp for Youth with Diabetes

Abstract

Complications associated with a complex chronic illness, specifically, type 1 diabetes, negatively impact youth as they struggle to maintain healthy lifestyles. Type 1 diabetes is the second most common chronic illness affecting youth as well as one of the most psychologically and behaviorally demanding illnesses. Fortunately, organized camps have been shown to positively influence long-term outcomes for youth. Family Diabetes Camp, the only family medical program in the state where this study occurred, was created in collaboration with a local university, a diabetes center at a hospital, and a chapter of the Lions Club. This collaborative camp program aimed to test the effect of active participation in a Family Diabetes Camp upon youth outcomes for campers with type 1 diabetes. Specifically, the purpose was to evaluate the impact of a collaborative medical camp on campers’ resilience and youth developmental outcomes (e.g., independence). Family Diabetes Camp was designed using Outcome-Focused Programming (OFP) to promote positive youth development. The Family Diabetes Camp included 50 campers for the pre-test and post-test (n= 19 males and n= 31 females). While there were no statistically significant differences from pretest (M=4.97, SD= .53) to post-test scores (M=5.01, SD= .46), with t(50) = -.56, p= .57) researchers found a slight increase in resilience from pre to post-test. Using a retrospective measure, campers showed gains in the seven critical youth development outcomes identified by the American Camp Association. Finally, campers learned new knowledge about site injection, carbohydrate counting, and the use of exercise to help manage their diabetes. The impact associated with adapting activities and an environment to encourage, analyze, and challenge resilient behaviors is essential in encouraging independence, shared experiences, and effective disease management for youth living with type 1 diabetes. The camp, solely staffed by volunteers, included physicians, diabetes educators, certified therapeutic recreation specialists, dietitians, nurses, pump specialists, recreation professionals and students, and Lions Club Members. The camp program is unique not only in how it fills a void for youth with type 1 diabetes but how three large organizations work in concert to meet the needs of entire families. These types of data can be instrumental in establishing more camps and other out of school time programming that positively impacts quality of life, health care cost, and mortality among youth with type 1 diabetes.

Family Diabetes Camp Amidst COVID-19: A Community of Practice Model

“…The lack of providing this annual experience for our campers hindered many of the benefits both campers and their families gain from the opportunity (Collins et al, 2021). During the pandemic, many youth were denied out-of-school time experiences, and those who are autoimmune compromised, had even fewer options.…”

“…Medical specialty camps are a type of camp that provide opportunities for youth with chronic illnesses to share common goals, increase socialization, increase independence, improve camper well-being, and increase knowledge of diabetes management (Collins et al, 2021). Furthermore, participation in medical camps may foster positive relationships between youth and healthcare providers, ultimately supporting positive health behaviors and self-management skills (DiDomizio & Gillard, 2018;Schulman-Green et al, 2012).…”

“…Furthermore, participation in medical camps may foster positive relationships between youth and healthcare providers, ultimately supporting positive health behaviors and self-management skills (DiDomizio & Gillard, 2018;Schulman-Green et al, 2012). Among medical specialty camps, those that involved families provided a unique opportunity for further benefits, such as opportunities to build relationships using a shared experience (Collins et al, 2021;Hill et al, 2019). Participation can also have the propensity to improve communication and family bonding because of the altered power structure where parents are taken out of a position of authority (Duerden et al, 2013).…”

“…That is, despite some challenges that may deter family participation, medical specialty camps designed for engagement for the entire family can provide a safe space for enrichment that supports youth as they continue to learn and practice diabetes management (Douma et al, 2018;Griffith & Larson, 2014;Hill et al, 2019). Research suggests family diabetes camp can positively impact camper resilience, learning, and desired camper outcomes when engineering intentional experiences (Collins et al, 2021). Multiple studies demonstrate relationship parental acknowledgment in their direct role to support autonomous behavior (Collins et al, 2021;Hill et al, 2019;Hill et al, 2015), but little research exists about the impact of a family diabetes camp experience during COVID-19.…”

“…Research suggests family diabetes camp can positively impact camper resilience, learning, and desired camper outcomes when engineering intentional experiences (Collins et al, 2021). Multiple studies demonstrate relationship parental acknowledgment in their direct role to support autonomous behavior (Collins et al, 2021;Hill et al, 2019;Hill et al, 2015), but little research exists about the impact of a family diabetes camp experience during COVID-19.…”