Parents' perspectives of factors affecting parent-adolescent communication about type 1 diabetes and negotiation of self-management responsibilities.
Caroline Rawdon, Sophia M Kilcullen, Nuala Murphy and 3 others
PMID 36529483WHAT IT FOUND
Parents said communication about diabetes was easier when they had accepted it, stayed calm, timed conversations, avoided blame, and respected their teen’s growing independence.
High glucose, routine changes and clinic visits often prompted talks.
Key findings
01Parents said their own acceptance of the child’s diabetes, understanding of the adolescent’s daily experience, and emotional state shaped whether conversations went well.
02Parents said staying calm, delaying difficult conversations, and avoiding scolding or blame helped communication.
03Out-of-range blood glucose readings and upcoming clinic visits triggered conversations, and out-of-range readings sometimes turned into nagging rather than discussion.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was limited to parents who volunteered, so parents who found communication especially difficult may be under-represented. Fathers were under-represented, and the sample had limited diversity in family structures. All participants were white Irish families, so findings may not represent other cultural backgrounds. The study did not include adolescents’ own perspectives, so parent reports may not match what adolescents experience. All adolescents lived with their parents, so the findings do not cover adolescents moving to self-care away from home. The study did not strongly address topics such as weight management and alcohol consumption. There was wide variability in how long adolescents had lived with diabetes, and the study did not examine whether that affected communication.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. Funding was provided by the Health Research Board of Ireland.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these parent-reported strategies as evidence that any communication method improves diabetes control or self-management. The study asked parents about experiences and did not test an intervention or measure adolescent outcomes.