The school-based lived experiences of adolescents with type 1 diabetes

School plays a critical role in influencing the health, safety, development, and well-being of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, scant research has been conducted to understand the lived experiences of these adolescents in school settings.

This study investigates the school-based lived experiences of Taiwanese adolescents with T1DM.

A Heidegger's hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used, and 14 Taiwanese adolescents with T1DM were enrolled through purposive snowball sampling until data saturation was reached. Data were collected using audio-recorded, semistructured interviews and analyzed using the hermeneutic circle supported by qualitative analysis software NVivo 9.0. Reflective journaling, peer debriefing, memo writing, and member checking were performed to enhance the trustworthiness of the findings.

Six interrelated themes were identified: (a) the same yet different, (b) covert and overt, (c) limitations and freedom, (d) independent and dependent, (e) derailing and being on track, and (f) disease identity and denial. Multiple factors, including disease identity, social anxiety and pressure, ignorance of school personnel and classmates, and transition to independent self-management threatened the at-school health and well-being of participants.

Much work remains to be done to adequately improve the school-life experiences of adolescents with T1DM. Interventions to facilitate their autonomy, self-efficacy, diabetes knowledge, disease identity, and handling of situational obstacles are suggested as well as improving the understanding of T1DM for teachers and classmates and facilitating more proactive care by school nurses.