Self-Management Experiences of Adolescents With Diabetes Mellitus After Participating in a Structured Diabetes Education Program: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis.
Paniarepa Saard, Albert Farre, Jan R Boehnke and 1 others
PMID 41742804WHAT IT FOUND
Adolescents with type 1 diabetes described confidence in adjusting insulin and exercise, changed routines, and coping after structured education.
Parents, peers, and clinic communication were described as shaping whether they continued self-management.
Key findings
01Adolescents described increased confidence in making decisions about insulin dosing and exercise after completing structured diabetes education.
02Parental over-control and clinic communication focused on glucose targets were described as barriers to continued self-management.
03Peer support, teen mentors, and group discussion were described as supporting adolescents' comfort and independent decision-making.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 4 studies and 45 participants were included, so the themes rest on a small evidence base. All included studies were in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, and no study addressed adolescents with type 2 diabetes. The studies were from the United States, Denmark, England, and Australia, and most participants were White, so the themes may not transfer to other populations. Two studies were rated medium quality because ethical considerations and reflexivity were not reported. The included education programs varied in format and components, and the review reports adolescents' experiences rather than tested effects.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The publication is part of an author's PhD research funded by a doctoral scholarship from Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Thailand. Other named authors disclosed no financial support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that structured diabetes education improves glucose control. The review reports adolescents' experiences from 4 qualitative studies, all in type 1 diabetes, and does not test whether any education component caused those experiences.