Facilitators and Inhibitors of Independent Disease Self-Management for Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

*Corresponding author: Rita E. J. Meadows, 20930 Dupont Blvd, Suite 101, Georgetown, Delaware 19947. Tel: 302-519-8264; Office: 302-856-3737; Fax: 302-856-7337; Email: [email protected]

Received Date: December 01, 2021 

Published Date: December 17, 2021 

Copyrights: Meadows REJ. © (2021). 

Citation: Meadows REJ. (2021). Facilitators and Inhibitors of Independent Disease Self-Management for Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. Mathews J Nurs. 3(1):5. 

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To describe adolescents’ perceptions of facilitators and inhibitors of behaviors required to support independent self-management of type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Methods: A qualitative descriptive method was used to describe and analyze focus group data collected from 12 adolescents with T1DM who were participating in a summer camp. Focus group interviews were conducted and data were analyzed iteratively until thematic saturation was achieved. Results: The overarching theme, “Sorry, I have diabetes...It shaped me into who I am” was supported by three domains: Self-management behavior skills required during transition from dependent to independent T1DM self-management; Facilitators of everyday participation in self-management behaviors; and Inhibitors of everyday participation in self-management behaviors. Eight apriori and inductively generated categories support the three domains. Conclusions: Current transitional diabetes education programs for adolescents with T1DM must be refined.  A more comprehensive assessment that identifies the multiple factors that impact independent self-management of adolescents with T1DM must address the social determinants of health, gender, race, culture, socioeconomic status, management of co-morbidities and the triadic relationship between parents, the school community, and the health care provider(s). Further research is needed to explore and identify the facilitators and inhibitors of transition from dependent to independent self-management of the adolescent with T1DM, from the adolescents’ perspective, to inform transitional interventions.

Keywords: Type 1 Diabetes, Adolescent, Transition, Independent Self-Management, Facilitators and Inhibitors