Family dynamics when a child becomes chronically ill: Impact of type 1 diabetes onset in children and adolescents

Experiences and needs of children with siblings diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes: A mixed studies systematic review

PROBLEM

The lives of family members for children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) after often shaped around the diagnosis as long-term/life-long care is needed. The combination of illness symptoms, treatment cost, and caregiving demands for T1DM negatively affects family functioning. While the experiences and needs of both parents and children suffering from T1DM are well documented, literature on healthy siblings of children with T1DM remains scarce.

PURPOSE

This systematic review aims to consolidate and examine the experiences and needs of siblings of children with T1DM.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Qualitative and quantitative studies exploring the experiences and needs of children under 18 years old whose siblings are diagnosed with T1DM.

SAMPLE

Six electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Scopus and ProQuest) were searched from inception till July 2021. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

Four themes were generated from the synthesis: (1) emotional responses to sibling's condition, (2) stepping out of comfort zone, (3) changes in family dynamics, and (4) takeaways and a way forward.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of T1DM diagnosis on siblings of children with T1DM suggest a need for healthcare providers to provide them better emotional and informational support, and allow them more involvement in the care for their sibling with T1DM.

IMPLICATIONS

Findings from this review will be able to inform policymakers on the development of future support programmes for children with T1DM and their families and encourage clinicians to revise T1DM care plans to be more family-centered. PROSPERO number: CRD42020204985.

Barriers and facilitators of type 1 diabetes self-care in adolescents and young adults

PURPOSE

This study explores the disease experience of adolescents and young adults with T1DM focusing on the barriers and facilitators that characterise their disease self-care. Self-care requires complex decision making and cooperation between patients, their families, the healthcare team, and the social support system. Personal and social factors affect self-care, and specific challenges impact adolescents and young adults, putting them at a higher risk of poor glycaemic control and more severe complications.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The study uses a qualitative description approach. Twenty-two people (15 women; 10-30 years old; 2-24 years from diagnosis) were purposefully recruited through snowballing techniques. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews and analysed inductively with semantic thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes and nine subthemes conceptualise the patients' experience as a life-long journey that has its difficult beginning at the time of diagnosis and continues through the resolution of the initial crisis by integrating disease at the identity level and acquiring expertise. Technology and social environment act both as self-care barriers and facilitators.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the importance of designing and improving technology related to diabetes accounting for patients' experiences. Second, it is imperative to work towards a de-stigmatisation of diabetes. Finally, health professionals should work with people with T1DM on the psychological aspects of the disease and identity integration.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Diabetes-related technology should promote usability and acceptability while addressing visibility and device burden issues. Clinicians should pay particular attention during the transition from the paediatric to the adult centres and offer global assessments and treatment.

Avaliação de tecnologia educativa para crianças com diabetes: estudo metodológico

Resumo Objetivos descrever o processo de elaboração e avaliação de tecnologia educativa destinada à promoção do cuidado de crianças com diabetes. Método pesquisa metodológica desenvolvida em duas fases: elaboração e avaliação. A fase de elaboração compõe: revisão de literatura; diagnóstico situacional e elaboração das ilustrações; layout; design e textos. Aplicou-se a escala Likert para a avaliação de conteúdo. Os dados foram analisados por meio do coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, Índice de Validade de Conteúdo e nível de concordância. Resultados a definição da temática teve como base as demandas percebidas no diagnóstico situacional e a revisão de literatura. A seleção das imagens foi realizada por meio de fotografias, banco de imagens e Illustrator. As informações foram construídas como história em quadrinhos com o auxílio de designer gráfico. A tecnologia, avaliada por 12 profissionais de saúde, demonstrou nível de confiabilidade satisfatório conforme o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach (0,7121). O Índice de Validade de Conteúdo (0,875) e o nível de concordância (91,67) foram classificados como altos. Conclusão este estudo apresentou considerações relevantes na promoção do cuidado e no aumento do escopo de possibilidades de intervenções do profissional de saúde na perspectiva do cuidado centrado na criança e na família.

Explanatory models of families of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES

to analyze how children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and their families explain the pathology, based on their understanding of the factors related to the discovery of diabetes, the etiology, treatment, and prognosis of the disease.

METHODS

qualitative methodological approach, based on medical anthropology and the narrative method. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 families of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus attending follow-up consultations at a specialized center. The statements were subjected to inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

the explanatory models identified describe the families search for the clarification of the signs and symptoms that the child had. Faced with the disease, families reorganized themselves to meet new health care needs of children, such as adequate nutrition, physical exercise, and blood glucose monitoring. Final Considerations: knowing the explanatory models allows the understanding of how families give meaning to the child's illness, favoring daily nursing care and an effective control of the disease.