Creating an adolescent intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment for type 1 diabetes: Feedback from the target population

TL;DR

Researchers gathered feedback from adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their caregivers to refine a lifestyle treatment program aimed at addressing obesity and health behaviors.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel approach to developing an intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment tailored for adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Findings

Three main themes emerged from participant feedback: satisfaction with the proposed program, preferences for program structure, and suggested adaptations.

The adapted treatment program appears to be acceptable to the target population of adolescents with T1D.

Feedback from participants will guide further refinement of the treatment program.

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity among youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) has significantly increased over the past few decades, leading to increased risks for morbidity and early mortality. Despite this growing need, there is a dearth of evidence-based intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatments (IHBLT) for youth with T1D. This study collected qualitative data from adolescents with T1D and with comorbid overweight/obesity and their caregivers to inform the refinement of an IHBLT specific to adolescents with T1D.

This is an original clinical research study. Participants completed individual semi-structured interviews to provide feedback on planned session topics, handouts, and activities for a modified IHBLT for T1D. A deductive framework matrix analysis approach was used to analyze data. All data were analyzed by two independent coders who met to discuss divergence in coding and came to 100 % agreement. Codes were iteratively reduced and organized into themes.

Sixteen participants (n = 8 adolescents, n = 8 caregivers) completed qualitative interviews. Three main themes emerged from the data: (1) satisfaction with the proposed program, (2) program structure preferences, and (3) suggested adaptations.

The adapted IHBLT for adolescents with T1D seems to be initially acceptable to the target population. Results provide suggestions for the continued refinement of an IHBLT specific to adolescents with T1D.

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