# Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Is Associated With Health-Related Quality of Life Among Parents and Children With Type 1 Diabetes

## TL;DR

This study shows that parents' and children's satisfaction with diabetes treatment is linked to better quality of life and perceived diabetes control in families managing type 1 diabetes.

## Contribution

The study reveals a strong association between treatment satisfaction and health-related quality of life in both parents and children with type 1 diabetes.

## Key findings

- Parents' treatment satisfaction is strongly associated with their child's HRQoL and perceived diabetes control.
- Children's treatment satisfaction is moderately associated with their HRQoL.
- Treatment satisfaction scores were lower in children compared to parents.

## Abstract

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) requires numerous daily self-management decisions and, for children, parents have a crucial role in this. The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment satisfaction among parents of children with T1D and the associations with the child's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and perceived diabetes control. A secondary aim was to evaluate treatment satisfaction among school children with T1D and the associations with HRQoL and perceived diabetes control.

In this cross-sectional study, 111 parents of children with T1D (0–12 years) and 75 children with T1D (8–12 years) were included. Treatment satisfaction was measured using the diabetes treatment satisfaction questionnaire (DTSQ), parent version, scored 0–60, or teens version, scored 0–48. HRQoL was measured with DISABKIDS. Differences between groups were analyzed using independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance. Linear regression was used to investigate associations between treatment satisfaction and HRQoL and perceived diabetes control.

The mean value for treatment satisfaction among parents was 41.0 (95% confidence interval (CI): 39.5–42.5) and among children 36.3 (95% CI: 34.5–38.0). Parents' treatment satisfaction was associated with their child's HRQoL (by proxy), perceived diabetes control, and diabetes duration (correlations coefficient [R2] = 0.54, p  < 0.001). Children's treatment satisfaction was associated with HRQoL (R2 = 0.29, p=0.005).

The child's HRQoL and perceived diabetes control are important for treatment satisfaction among parents of children with T1D.