Exploring self-management characteristics in youths with type 1 diabetes mellitus: does membership in a glycemic control category matter? Pediatr Diabetes 2010 Dec;11(8):536-43
Date
02/11/2010Pubmed ID
20144180DOI
10.1111/j.1399-5448.2010.00638.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-78649765185 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 10 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels have been shown to worsen in adolescence and be related to long-term diabetes complications. Although categories of diabetes control (e.g., ideal, satisfactory, and poor) are routinely used in clinical practice, research has not fully explored whether these categories meaningfully distinguish between different self-management characteristics.
OBJECTIVES: This study examines potential differences in self-management characteristics for youths and their caregivers for three different categories of diabetes control (e.g., ideal, satisfactory, and poor control).
METHODS: A total of 69 adolescents (35 M/34 F) with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) (aged 12-17 yr) and their caregivers completed questionnaires of readiness to change the balance of responsibility for diabetes tasks, family responsibility in diabetes management, and self-efficacy for diabetes. A medical record review yielded demographic information, most recent HbA1c level, and health care utilization over the past year.
RESULTS: Youths in the three different categories of diabetes control demonstrated no significant differences on measures of self-management characteristics. Maternal caregivers from the satisfactory control category and youths in the poor control category demonstrated the most consistent responses across various self-management characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS: Youths classified in different categories of glycemic control may not be as different in their self-management characteristics as was presumed. Moreover, associations among self-management characteristics were not universal across responders. Therefore, individual assessments of youths' and caregivers' self-management characteristics need to occur independent of the youths' membership in a certain category of diabetes control.
Author List
Kichler JC, Kaugars AS, Ellis J, Alemzadeh RAuthor
Astrida Kaugars PhD Associate Professor of Psychology in the Psychology department at Marquette UniversityMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Blood Glucose
Caregivers
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Parents
Patient Compliance
Self Care
Self Efficacy
Surveys and Questionnaires
