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Yakubu, Titilola Islamiat

University of British Columbia

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with various psychological struggles, making the management of this condition even more challenging. Integrating digitally enabled peer support interventions into diabetes care may improve mental health outcomes, such as diabetes distress. Objective: The objectives of this study are three-fold: (1) to examine the impact of digitally enabled peer support interventions on mental health outcomes in people living with type 1 diabetes, (2) to explore the mental health support needs of adolescents with T1D, and (3) to elicit feedback for translating REACHOUT, a mobile app originally designed to deliver peer-led mental health support to T1D adults, to meet the unique needs of adolescents with T1D. Methods: For the first objective, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review of the literature on the impact of digitally enabled peer support platforms on mental health outcomes for individuals living with T1D. For the second and third objectives, we utilized focus groups to explore the mental health support needs of adolescents with T1D (from the perspective of adolescents and their parents) and to determine preferences for translating REACHOUT to NexGEN. Results: In the systematic review, out of 3,623 abstracts screened, 34 studies underwent full-text evaluation, and nine were selected for synthesis. Of these, three showed significant reductions in diabetes distress, and two reported improvements in depression. Key factors linked to these outcomes included participatory intervention development, diabetes education, longer duration, theory-based frameworks, and peer mentor involvement. Participants in the focus group were ten adolescents (16 ± 1 years, 80% female) and ten parents (51 ± 7 years, 90% female). Four core themes (with subthemes) emerged, including 1) Experience: Navigating adolescence with T1D; 2) Empowerment: Support systems that enable better management of their T1D; 3) Obstacles: Societal barriers that affect adolescent’s T1D management; and 4) Innovation: Adolescent-driven preferences for virtual peer support platforms. Conclusion: Understanding T1D adolescents' specific support needs is crucial for addressing their emotional and social challenges. Involving them and their parents in tailoring NexGEN to their diabetes management and developmental needs is key. Future research should pilot NexGEN to assess its feasibility and acceptability before evaluative studies.

Text

2024-04-09

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/87713

Experimental Medicine

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/