Psychosocial Patient-Reported Outcomes in Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes: a Review and Case Example

Incorporating the Six Core Elements of Health Care Transition in Type 1 Diabetes Care for Emerging Adults

A growing body of literature finds persistent problems in the provision of recommended health care transition services, as well as adverse outcomes associated with the lack of these services in emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. The Six Core Elements of Health Care Transition offers a structured approach to the phases of health care transition support for both pediatric and adult diabetes practices. This article reviews strategies to incorporate the Six Core Elements into ambulatory diabetes care to support successful health care transition for emerging adults with type 1 diabetes.

Updated Psychosocial Surveys With Continuous Glucose Monitoring Items for Youth With Type 1 Diabetes and Their Caregivers

AIM

We added items relevant to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to the Diabetes Family Conflict Scale (DFC), Diabetes Family Responsibility Questionnaire (DFR), and Blood Glucose Monitoring Communication Questionnaire (GMC) and evaluated the psychometric properties of the updated surveys.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Youth with type 1 diabetes who recently started CGM and their parents completed the updated surveys and additional psychosocial surveys. Medical data were collected from self-reports and review of the medical record.

RESULTS

Youth (N = 114, 49% adolescent girls) were aged 13.3 ± 2.7 years and had mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 7.9 ± 0.9%; 87% of them used pump therapy. The updated surveys demonstrated high internal consistency (DFC youth: α = .91, parent: α = .81; DFR youth: α = .88, parent: α = .93; and GMC youth: α = .88, parent: α = .86). Higher youth and parent DFC scores (more diabetes-specific family conflict) and GMC scores (more negative affect related to glucose monitoring) were associated with more youth and parent depressive symptoms (r = 0.28-0.60, P ≤ .003), more diabetes burden (r = 0.31-0.71, P ≤ .0009), more state anxiety (r = 0.24 to r = 0.46, P ≤ .01), and lower youth quality of life (r = -0.29 to -0.50, P ≤ .002). Higher youth and parent DFR scores (more parent involvement in diabetes management) were associated with younger youth age (youth: r = -0.76, P < .0001; parent: r = -0.81, P < .0001) and more frequent blood glucose monitoring (youth: r = 0.27, P = .003; parent: r = 0.35, P = .0002).

CONCLUSIONS

The updated DFC, DFR, and GMC surveys maintain good psychometric properties. The addition of CGM items expands the relevance of these surveys for youth with type 1 diabetes who are using CGM and other diabetes technologies.

Implementation of Psychosocial Screening into Diabetes Clinics: Experience from the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Quality Improvement Network

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Although advances in diabetes technology and pharmacology have significantly and positively impacted diabetes management and health outcomes for some, diabetes care remains burdensome and can be challenging to balance with other life priorities. The purpose of this article is to review the rationale for assessment of psychosocial domains in diabetes care settings and strategies for the implementation of psychosocial screening into routine practice. Survey data from the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Quality Improvement Network is highlighted.

RECENT FINDINGS

Implementation of psychosocial screening requires identifying the population; selecting validated tools to assess target domains; determining frequency of screening and mode of survey delivery; and scoring, interpreting, documenting, and facilitating referrals such that these processes are part of clinical workflows. Recognizing the influence of psychosocial factors for people with diabetes (PWD), professional society guidelines for comprehensive diabetes care recommend the integration of psychosocial screening into routine care.

Psychosocial Assessment Tools for Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: a 10-Year Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There is a notable lack of consistency in the measurement of psychosocial factors affecting youth with type 1 diabetes, resulting in a need for increased measurement standardization and establishment of measures tailored to capture unique experiences faced by youth. This review sought to assess 10 years of extant literature (2011 to 2020) to identify which established measurement tools are commonly used and to evaluate new measurement tools that were introduced during this period.

RECENT FINDINGS

There are a variety of psychosocial factors affecting youth, and assessment of these measures has shown substantial variability. Our review found that most frequently cited scales were those pertaining to self-efficacy, diabetes distress, family conflict, autonomy, and fear of hypoglycemia. During our review period, experts developed and validated 21 new scales, the majority of which sought to evaluate areas pertaining to diabetes distress. Of the common scales and newly developed scales identified in this review, psychometric properties showcase high reliability and validity, and items are becoming increasingly specific to youth but still lack assessment of how youth perceive technology's impact on diabetes management. The field would benefit from measures employing more nuanced age specificity and addressing technology usage.

Modified e-Delphi Process for the Selection of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Children and Families With Type 1 Diabetes Using Continuous Glucose Monitors: Delphi Study

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) management is complex and associated with significant psychosocial burden. Continuous glucose monitors (CGM) can improve disease management and outcomes and introduce new or exacerbate existing psychosocial concerns. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) can be used to capture this information, but there is no consensus on which PROMs should be used in pediatric CGM research.

OBJECTIVE

Here we describe the process to (1) identify PROMs that could be used to assess the impact of CGMs on pediatric patients with T1D, (2) implement a modified electronic Delphi (e-Delphi) methodology to arrive at an expert consensus on which PROMs are most suitable for clinical and research applications, and (3) establish a periodicity table for the administration of PROMs over time in a real-world evidence study.

METHODS

To identify appropriate PROMs for pediatric patients and families with T1D and CGMs, we conducted an asynchronous, e-Delphi process with a multidisciplinary group of experts from around the country. We identified candidate instruments through a literature review. The 3-round e-Delphi process was conducted via a study website, email, and web-based forms. Participants provided opinions on the usefulness of instruments, age validation, feasibility, time, and frequency of administration.

RESULTS

In total, 16 experts participated in the e-Delphi process; 4 of whom consistently participated in all 3 rounds. We identified 62 candidate instruments, which were narrowed down to 12 final PROMs across 5 domains: diabetes distress and burden (n=4), autonomy (n=2), quality of life (n=1), psychosocial (n=3), and technology acceptance (n=2). A quarterly administration schedule was developed to reduce burden on participants.

CONCLUSIONS

PROMs can provide critical insights into the psychosocial well-being of patients. The specific measures identified in the paper are particularly well suited for pediatric patients with T1D using CGMs. Clinical implementation could help health care providers, patients, and families to engage in more comprehensive disease management.

Perceived Benefits, Barriers, and Facilitators of a Digital Patient-Reported Outcomes Tool for Routine Diabetes Care: Protocol for a National, Multicenter, Mixed Methods Implementation Study

BACKGROUND

There is growing evidence that digital patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires and PRO-based decision support tools may help improve the active engagement of people with diabetes in self-care, thereby improving the quality of care. However, many barriers still exist for the real-world effectiveness and implementation of such PRO tools in routine care. Furthermore, limited research has evaluated the acceptability, feasibility, and benefits of such tools across different health care settings.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and perceived benefits of the Danish digital PRO diabetes tool in different health care settings in Denmark and to determine the factors affecting its implementation. Furthermore, the study evaluates the psychometric characteristics of the Danish PRO Diabetes Questionnaire and the validity of the scoring algorithms for dialogue support. The objective of this study is to guide the ongoing optimization of the PRO diabetes tool, its implementation, and the design of future randomized controlled effectiveness studies.

METHODS

We designed a multicenter, mixed methods, single-arm acceptability-feasibility implementation study protocol to contribute to the real-world pilot test of a new digital PRO diabetes tool in routine diabetes care. The use of the tool involves two main steps. First, the people with diabetes will complete a digital PRO Diabetes Questionnaire in the days before a routine diabetes visit. Second, the health care professional (HCP) will use a digital PRO tool to review the PRO results together with the people with diabetes during the visit. The PRO diabetes tool is designed to encourage and support people to take an active role for the people with diabetes in their own care and to expedite the delivery of person-centered, collaborative, and coordinated care.

RESULTS

A multicenter pilot study protocol and psychometrically designed digital data collection tools for evaluation were developed and deployed as part of a national evaluation of a new digital PRO diabetes intervention. A total of 598 people with diabetes and 34 HCPs completed the study protocol by April 1, 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

A large-scale, mixed methods, multicenter study for evaluating the use of the nationally developed PRO Diabetes Questionnaire in routine care across all health care sectors in Denmark by using the RE-AIM (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance) model as a framework has been designed and is ongoing. This study is expected to provide new important and detailed information about the real-world acceptability, perceived relevance, and benefits of the PRO diabetes tool among a large heterogeneous population of people with diabetes in Denmark and HCPs in different care settings. The results will be used to further improve the PRO tool, design implementation facilitation support strategies, and design future controlled effectiveness studies.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/28391.

Effectiveness of quality improvement strategies for type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents: a systematic review protocol

Introduction: Optimal glycaemic control is often a challenge in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Implementation of patient, clinician or organisation-targeted quality improvement (QI) strategies has been proven to be beneficial in terms of improving glycaemic outcomes in adults living with diabetes. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of such QI interventions in improving glycaemic control, care delivery, and screening rates in children and adolescents with T1D. Methods and analysis: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane CENTRAL databases will be searched for relevant studies up to January 2021. Trial registries, ClinicalTrials.gov and ICTRP, will also be explored for any ongoing trials of relevance. We will include trials which examine QI strategies as defined by a modified version of the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care 2015 Taxonomy in children (<18 years) with a diagnosis of T1D. The primary outcome to be assessed is glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), although a range of secondary outcomes relating to clinical management, adverse events, healthcare engagement, screening rates and psychosocial parameters will also be assessed. Our primary intention is to generate a best-evidence narrative to summarise and synthesise the resulting studies. If a group of studies are deemed to be highly similar, then a meta-analysis using a random effects model will be considered. Cochrane Risk of Bias 1.0 tool will be applied for quality assessment. All screening, data extraction and quality assessment will be performed by two independent researchers. Dissemination: The results of this review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication in order to inform invested partners (e.g., Paediatric Endocrinologists) on the potential of QI strategies to improve glycaemic management and other related health outcomes in children with T1D, thereby guiding best practices in the outpatient management of the disorder. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021233974 (28/02/2021).

A mobile app identifies momentary psychosocial and contextual factors related to mealtime self-management in adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Effective diabetes problem solving requires identification of risk factors for inadequate mealtime self-management. Ecological momentary assessment was used to enhance identification of factors hypothesized to impact self-management. Adolescents with type 1 diabetes participated in a feasibility trial for a mobile app called MyDay. Meals, mealtime insulin, self-monitored blood glucose, and psychosocial and contextual data were obtained for 30 days. Using 1472 assessments, mixed-effects between-subjects analyses showed that social context, location, and mealtime were associated with missed self-monitored blood glucose. Stress, energy, mood, and fatigue were associated with missed insulin. Within-subjects analyses indicated that all factors were associated with both self-management tasks. Intraclass correlations showed within-subjects accounted for the majority of variance. The ecological momentary assessment method provided specific targets for improving self-management problem solving, phenotyping, or integration within just-in-time adaptive interventions.

Patient-Reported and Parent Proxy-Reported Outcomes in Pediatric Medical Specialty Clinical Settings: A Systematic Review of Implementation

OBJECTIVE

Youth with chronic illness are at higher risk for psychosocial difficulties, leading to a call for screening via patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The purpose of the current review is to summarize PRO implementation in pediatric medical specialty settings. A literature review of PRO implementation in these settings, conceptual issues, value and approach, legal and ethical concerns, as well as a case example of PROA in type 1 diabetes are presented.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to identify relevant articles published since the most recent Journal of Pediatric Psychology Special Issue on Evidence-Based Assessment in Pediatric Psychology (2008).

RESULTS

Thirty-two articles were identified and reviewed. The majority of studies reported that PROA was feasible, did not disrupt clinic flow, identified psychosocial issues warranting intervention, and was acceptable to families and providers. Response to elevated scores and impact on behavioral health referrals varied.

CONCLUSION

While many evidenced-based assessment measures are well-validated within pediatric chronic illness groups, the literature regarding implementation of PROs is still emerging. Research findings are promising, with PROs being feasible, acceptable, and leading to increased discussion of psychosocial issues when integrated into pediatric medical settings. Additional research is needed to evaluate the longitudinal impact of PROs and the optimal manner of responding to assessment data, particularly when clinically-elevated. Ultimately, identifying psychosocial issues in pediatric medical settings can promote optimal health and well-being of youth with chronic illness and their families.

Using Person-Reported Outcomes (PROs) to Motivate Young People with Diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This manuscript describes how person-reported outcomes (PROs) can be utilized in care for young people with diabetes in the context of motivation.

RECENT FINDINGS

The use of person-reported outcome measures (PROMS) in clinical care is feasible and acceptable, and helps focus the clinical encounter on life domains important to the person with diabetes. Results with regard to impact on self-management and glycemic outcomes are limited. Motivation is an important factor for self-management. Based on self-determination theory, autonomy-supportive, person-centered, and collaborative communication by diabetes care providers is associated with better outcomes. PROMs can facilitate this conversation. Understanding of youth motivation for maintaining or improving self-management behaviors requires a person-centered approach. PROMs can be used to facilitate an autonomy-supportive and person-centered conversation in clinical care. Training diabetes care providers in autonomy-supportive, person-centered conversation skills to discuss PROs might help to tap into youth's motivation, but further research is needed.

Therapeutic Inertia in Pediatric Diabetes: Challenges to and Strategies for Overcoming Acceptance of the Status Quo

Despite significant advances in therapies for pediatric type 1 diabetes, achievement of glycemic targets remains elusive, and management remains burdensome for patients and their families. This article identifies common challenges in diabetes management at the patient-provider and health care system levels and proposes practical approaches to overcoming therapeutic inertia to enhance health outcomes for youth with type 1 diabetes.

A Practice in Maturation: Current Perspectives on the Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care for Young Adults with Diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review of available literature and resources highlights the challenges in transition from pediatric to adult care for young adults with diabetes, summarizes practical recommendations for facilitating the process, and identifies areas for improvement in current transition practice.

RECENT FINDINGS

Observational studies highlight suboptimal transition preparation counseling, gaps between pediatric and adult care, and increased post-transition hemoglobin A1c and acute care utilization. Studies showing improved outcomes with later age at transition allows for an extended focus on transition preparation with an eye toward developmental maturity. Interventional studies suggest varying benefits of transition coordinators and support programs. The period of transition from pediatric to adult care is a time of in which patients are at high risk for adverse outcomes and loss to follow-up; however, careful attention to planning the process and tracking patient readiness along with skilled care coordination can contribute to transition success. The durability of interventional models, as well as generalizability to varied clinical settings, must be further tested.

Trajectories of Acute Diabetes-Specific Stress in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes and Their Caregivers Within the First Year of Diagnosis

Objectives

Our aims were to describe stress trajectories for newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes (T1D) in adolescents and their parents, explore whether resilience is associated with stress trajectories, and to examine the effects of stress trajectories on diabetes-specific outcomes.

Methods

Fifty-nine youth aged 10-18 years with newly diagnosed T1D and a primary caregiver were followed for 12 months. Stress and resilience were assessed using questionnaires every 3 months, and diabetes-specific outcomes (self-care, quality of life, and hemoglobin A1C) at 6 and 12 months. Parent and adolescent stress trajectories were identified using semiparametric group-based modeling.

Results

Four stress trajectories emerged for parents and three emerged for adolescents. Adolescent trajectories were stable throughout the 12 months, and those with stable low stress had the highest levels of resilience. Further, the stable low stress group had higher quality of life scores at 12-month postdiagnosis. In contrast, stress for parents changed considerably over the 12-month period, and trajectory groups did not associate with 12-month outcomes.

Conclusions

Distinct patterns of stress emerged for both the adolescent and parent cohorts. Resilience at the time of diagnosis was particularly protective for adolescents. These results suggest that stress-reducing and resilience-promoting interventions for newly diagnosed adolescents with T1D may have potential to improve longer-term outcomes.

Can the Routine Use of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Improve the Delivery of Person-Centered Diabetes Care? A Review of Recent Developments and a Case Study

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In recent years, the recommendation for and use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in routine diabetes care has significantly increased. We review recent evidence and highlight key opportunities and challenges related to the active clinical use of PROMs to support person-centered diabetes care and focus areas for future research in the area.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent pragmatic studies support that integration of multi-dimensional PROMs for diabetes in clinical care as part of a care improvement strategy can be acceptable for and valued by people with diabetes (PWD) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) and may improve multiple aspects of quality of care, including screening, medical care monitoring and decision support, individualization of self-management support and goal-setting, and broader benefits related to active patient participation and person-centred diabetes care. We identify multiple intervention, individual, and care setting characteristics, which influence acceptability, feasibility, implementation, and effectiveness of PROMs in routine care. Recent clinical PROM studies highlight the value of mixed methods research and systematic involvement of PWD, clinicians, and other stakeholders in the design and implementation of questionnaires for patient input in routine diabetes care. We identified a new significant trend towards participatory development of multi-dimensional PROMs with the aim of IT-enabled integration into routine diabetes care to facilitate multiple components of person-centered diabetes care and better clinical, quality of life, and cost outcomes. While results from large-scale randomized controlled studies are still limited, a growing number of pragmatic implementation studies support that user-centric PROM interventions have the potential to facilitate significant improvements in care for PWD.

Self-Perceived Health Status and Sense of Coherence in Children With Type 1 Diabetes in the West Bank, Palestine

Introduction: Self-perceived health status and sense of coherence (SOC) are essential constructs for capturing health outcomes in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study measured self-perceived health status and SOC in children with T1D and compared them with a healthy reference group in West Bank, Palestine. Methodology: One hundred children with T1D aged 8 to 18 years and 300 healthy children completed PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales and SOC-13 in a cross-sectional descriptive study. Results: All children reported acceptable self-perceived health status and low degree of SOC. In the diabetes group, high degree of SOC was associated with better self-perceived health status and more optimal metabolic control. Males in the diabetes group reported higher self-perceived health status than females. Discussion: The unstable political situation in Palestine may threaten SOC in children in general. Health professionals can monitor self-perceived health status and SOC to evaluate interventions aiming to improve glycemic control.

Depression Screening of Adolescents With Diabetes: 5-Years of Implementation and Outcomes

As part of a quality improvement (QI) initiative, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Diabetes Center established a model of reliable, feasible, routine depression screening in a subspecialty clinic for adolescents with diabetes.¹ On the occasion of the special section of the journal focusing on screening for, detection of, and treatment of depression in diverse settings, the purpose of this correspondence is to describe the evolution of an in-clinic, pragmatic approach to depression and suicidal ideation (SI) screening, and to evaluate depression screening scores and glycemic control across age groups over time.

A Time-Friendly, Feasible Measure of Nutrition Knowledge in Type 1 Diabetes: The Electronic Nutrition and Carbohydrate Counting Quiz (eNCQ)

BACKGROUND

Greater knowledge about nutrition and carbohydrate counting are associated with improved glycemic control and quality of life in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, limited assessments of nutrition and carbohydrate knowledge have been developed, and existing measures can be time-consuming, overly broad, or not conducive to routine clinical use. To fill this gap, we developed and examined the feasibility of administering the electronic Nutrition and Carbohydrate Counting Quiz (eNCQ).

METHOD

Ninety-two caregivers and 70 youth with T1D (mean age 12.5 years; mean time since diagnosis 5 years; English speaking) completed the 19-item eNCQ via tablet during a routine clinical visit. Completion time and item completion rates were used to assess feasibility. Relationships between eNCQ scores and patient demographics, diabetes management, and health outcomes were examined.

RESULTS

Participants took 10 minutes, on average, to complete the eNCQ. Total and Carbohydrate subscale scores (youth report) were negatively correlated with youth hemoglobin A1c (total r = -.38, carbohydrate r = -.38, Ps < .05), indicating that greater nutrition knowledge related to better glycemic control. Nutrition knowledge scores were generally high, but knowledge was negatively related to time since diabetes diagnosis ( r = -.276, P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings support feasibility of the eNCQ to assess nutrition knowledge in routine clinical care. Following additional acceptability and validity testing, the eNCQ may identify families in need of further nutrition education. Nutrition assessment is particularly indicated for youth over one year since T1D diagnosis, as these families displayed lower nutrition knowledge and may need continuing education to maintain diabetes-specific nutrition knowledge over time.

Managing people with diabetes during the cancer palliation in the era of simultaneous care

Managing people with diabetes and cancer during palliation constitutes a daunting challenge. Cancer, diabetes and treatment toxicity could be seen as a "Bermuda Triangle" for physician and health care professionals in general. Based on literature review, the present paper stresses the distinctive aspects that diabetes and cancer together involve and bring out. Considering the simultaneous care approach as the basement of our perspective, we explore the areas of palliative intervention for which the specific features of persons with diabetes and cancer emerge: pain manifestation and treatment, response to opioids, psychosocial and communication aspects, infection-related susceptibility and complications. The overall impact of suffering that these two diseases in association involve requires new awareness and a cultural attitude towards new network based approaches in order to strengthen the person-centered health care in this field.