Intervention in emotional abilities for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus in a hospital setting: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Perceptions Related to Death in Adolescents and Their Parents During the Management of Type 1 Diabetes: A Thematic Analysis

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with an increased risk of premature death compared to those without T1D, yet perceptions of dying have not been well studied. The purpose of this secondary analysis of existing data was to explore the fears of adolescents with T1D and their parents related to the possibility of death due to T1D.

METHOD

A reflexive thematic analysis was used to examine data from interviews conducted with adolescents with T1D and their parents who participated in a primary grounded theory study of interdependence in T1D management.

FINDINGS

Three themes were generated from the data including: (1) Facing the Reality of Death, (2) Fearing Highs and Lows, and (3) Finding a Way through Fears. Participants indicated they see death as a consequence of failing to optimally manage T1D.

CONCLUSION

Additional investigation is needed to explore the fear of death in adolescents with T1D and any fear their parents may have of their adolescents' mortality.

Influence of emotional intelligence on glycemic control in adolescents with diabetes type 1

INTRODUCTION

Psychological factors can have a significant impact on diabetes control. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between emotional intelligence and glycemic control in type one diabetes (T1D) adolescents.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This prospective study enrolled 97 consecutive children admitted to our department and aged 15 to 17 with T1D. The Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire INTE was used to measure emotional intelligence. The results were correlated with a glycemic control status, measured by current and mean (since the diagnosis of T1D, minimum four tests per year) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). An additional questionnaire collected the demographic and social data.

RESULTS

Our study found a significant, negative correlation between HbA1c level and the ability to utilize emotions to support thinking and actions (Factor I of the INTE questionnaire). There was no significant correlation between emotional intelligence General Score or Factor II (the ability to recognize emotions) and glycemic control.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher ability to utilize emotions to support thinking and actions positively correlates with metabolic control in the adolescent population with T1D. The appropriate emotional intelligence training and better psychological care may improve the metabolic outcomes of children with T1D. This merits further study.

10Vida: A Mental and Physical Health Intervention for Chronically Ill Adolescents and Their Caregivers in the Hospital Setting: An Open Study

Suffering from a chronic disease (CD) in adolescence can significantly impact the emotional health of adolescents and their families. MHealth can be a useful tool for these groups. However, few intervention programmes include the family system. The aim is to design an intervention programme (10Vida) for a paediatric population with a CD, and their families, to improve their adaptation to the disease. The study is a quasi-experimental repeated measures design in a open study, where the patients themselves, and their families, are their own control group. Participants will receive an intervention of seven individual sessions: five sessions with each patient, and two sessions with their caregivers. In the case of the patients, the aim is to improve their emotional state, their self-esteem, and their emotional competencies, reducing their perceived threat of illness. Furthermore, in the case of the caregivers, the aim is to improve their emotional state and reduce their burden. Indirectly, working with caregivers and those being cared for will improve family ties. The pilot study will involve 25 to 30 chronically ill adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years and their primary caregivers. Following the results, the necessary modifications will be included, and the programme will be offered to adolescents and their families who are willing to participate.