The Effectiveness of Psychological Interventions for Families of Children With Type 1 Diabetes on Caregiver and Child...

Research suggests that the wellbeing of caregivers of children with Type 1 Diabetes can influence child health outcomes. Therefore, the aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the effect of psychological interventions for families of children with Type 1 Diabetes on caregiver and child functioning.

A systematic search of the literature identified 58 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met inclusion. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool.

Fifty-one trials had sufficient data to be included in the meta-analysis, analyzing nine variables (caregiver and child psychological distress, diabetes distress, family conflict and child quality of life (QoL), diabetes QoL and blood glucose) over three timepoints (post-intervention, short-term and long-term follow-up). Results from 10 (n = 550), three (n = 347) and 16 RCTs (n = 1631) respectively indicated that psychological interventions significantly reduced caregiver psychological distress post-intervention (SMD = -0.64, 95% CI = -1.15, -0.12), child psychological distress post-intervention (SMD = -0.34, 95% CI = -0.55, -0.31) and child blood glucose at short-term follow-up (SMD = -0.11, 95% CI = -0.21, -0.01), relative to controls.

Participants allocated to controls showed greater reductions in caregiver diabetes family conflict at short-and long-term follow-up than those assigned to psychological interventions. This was explained by significant baseline differences influencing a small number of studies. Studies were highly heterogenous regarding outcome measures, follow-ups, and interventions, with high concerns of bias often observed, reflecting the complexity of real-world clinical practice. Findings are promising. Appropriately powered RCTs with robust randomization are recommended to investigate the significance of effects, whilst considering dose response.