Adolescents' perceived benefits and barriers related to diabetes self-management--Part 1

Knowledge is limited about adolescents' decision making regarding their assumption of diabetes management from parents. This study's purpose was to identify adolescents' perceived benefits and barriers about this process. Sixteen adolescents with type 1 diabetes were interviewed. Questions were adapted from the Janis and Mann (1977) decisional balance sheet. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Descriptive expressions were identified and categories inductively generated. Adolescents' perceived benefits for themselves were having knowledge of or confidence in self-management abilities, more freedoms, and approval of others. They perceived benefits for parents as relief from responsibility, stress, and worry. Burden of responsibility was perceived as a barrier to adolescents for self-management. Adolescents perceived barriers for parents as worry/guilt and loss of control. Interrater agreement was initially 74%. Categories with disagreements were recategorized by interraters and then there was 100% agreement. Understanding adolescents' perceptions would be beneficial to their health care professionals.