Jordan Lynne Prescott and Dr. Donna Freeborn, College of Nursing
Purpose
To explore the effects of family support and how that relates to personal management of people diagnosed with Type I DM.
Research Question
What can be done by families who have children that are newly diagnosed with Type I DM that will increase their chances of compliancy to management throughout their lives?
Methodology
I am collaborating with Donna Freeborn and her colleagues in a qualitative study that used the biographical method, which was started in 2009. This research consists of two detailed interviews with adults who have Type I DM. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and inputted into NVivo version 9. The participants’ ages at diagnosis ranged from 2 to 48 years; they had been diagnosed with Type I DM for 1 to 54 years.
Results
Factors that Increased Compliance Throughout a Lifespan
• Positive family involvement both with siblings and parents
• Increased early independence of children with management of DM
• Education about DM for both children and families
• Involvement of other influential adults in a child’s life to teach the importance of management of DM
• Motivation to live up to their dreams
• Increased knowledge that compliancy is accomplishable Factors that Decrease Compliancy Throughout a Lifespan
• Children viewing their DM as a chore
• Feeling different than other kids and other members of their family
• Parents being overly protective and not encouraging independence in self-management of DM
• When control is established for a certain event in their life, such as going to college or going on vacation, not as a normal routine
• Increased stress that they need to be compliant to stay “healthy”
Discussion
Children need to be taught about their disease and their role in how they let that disease affect their lives. The largest determining factor of success for these children is the actions and influence of their close family, especially their parents. If parents can help kids to not only positively view their disease, but to also take control of the management of their disease as soon as possible, then these children are significantly more likely to comply to their diabetes regime throughout their lifetime. However, if children view their diabetes as a chore, or an impossible obstacle in their life, then the chances of them managing their disease are slim. Also if habits of compliance are not formed at a young age, with children taking responsibility for their diabetes, then the odds of these children taking care of their diabetes throughout their lifetime is also slim to none. Children need to be involved and feel that not only is success possible, but it is their responsibility. Many feel at diagnosis that a part of their life as they have known it is dying. What needs to be taught is that really their life is just changing and they have the ability and tools to control it if they choose.
Conclusion
There is a great need for medical professionals to aid families who have children who are newly diagnosed with DM. If both families and children can be taught early on how to manage DM properly, then many devastating effects of DM can be avoided and compliancy can be increased