Preteen-parent experiences with PREP-T1 feasibility intervention

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Behavioral Science
• Health Education

Background:

• Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) management requires significant family involvement and education.
• Effective interventions are needed to support preteens and parents in managing T1DM.
• Peer mentoring and technology-based education show promise in pediatric health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore preteen and parent perspectives on the feasibility of the PREP-T1 intervention.
• To gather insights into the experiences of using interactive education and peer mentoring for T1DM management.
• To identify strategies for enhancing family collaboration in T1DM care.

Main Methods:

• Conducted concurrent focus groups with 11 preteens and 11 parents across 2 sites.
• Utilized qualitative content analysis of notes from moderated focus groups.
• Employed a principal investigator, coinvestigator, and note takers for data collection.

Main Results:

• Preteens positively received diabetes education from teen mentors and human patient simulators.
• Parents reported high satisfaction with parent educator mentors and psychologists, valuing collaboration strategies.
• Both groups indicated peer support and improved collaboration are beneficial for T1DM management.

Conclusions:

• Moderated peer mentoring combined with technology offers a viable approach for shared diabetes management education.
• Findings will inform the design of a larger, fully powered PREP-T1 intervention study.
• The intervention shows potential for improving T1DM self-management skills in preteens and their families.