Type Teamwork A tool for Parents of Adolescents with Type Diabetes

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Type diabetes T D is one of the most common chronic illnesses in children affecting in with evidence that its prevalence is increasing worldwide The prevalence of T D in adolescents is approximately percent White percent Hispanic and percent Black Parents of children with T D are responsible for a labor intensive and complicated daily regimen that has been described as an overwhelming experience requiring constant vigilance Intensive management of T D requires frequent blood glucose monitoring multiple insulin injections or use of an insulin pump frequent alterations in insulin dose to match changing diet and activity patterns and regular visits to health care providers This attention to their childandapos s health manifests in elevated rates of parental perception of stress and increased risk for depression and anxiety The prevalence of anxiety symptoms for parents of children with T D range from percent depressive symptoms from percent psychological distress from percent and posttraumatic stress symptoms from percent Parental psychological distress has negative health implications for the parent the overall functioning of the family the psychological adjustment of their child with T D diabetes management and child metabolic control The goal of this application is to complete the psycho educational web based program for parents of adolescents with T D Type Teamwork which will help to decrease parental perceived stress and distress promote parental adjustment to the developmental transitions in adolescence support adolescent autonomy and transfer of diabetes responsibility from parent to adolescent decrease family conflict and maintain metabolic control during adolescence We propose to complete two major Aims in Phase II Specific Aim Develop the Type Teamwork program for use on computer tablet or smartphone based on the activities completed in Phase I Six content themes have been identified as important to parents and providers Feasibility assessment has provided support of these content themes as well as substantive recommendations to ensure content and interactivity is engaging and meets the needs of parents of children with T D as well as health care providers We will use an iterative process of development and evaluation collaborating with our technology team parent advisors and clinical consultants to ensure development of a quality product and to submit a peer reviewed manuscript for publication of the results Specific Aim Evaluate the Type Teamwork program through a modest randomized clinical trial We will determine the effect of the program on parent psychosocial outcomes stress depression and anxiety adolescent autonomy parent adolescent responsibility for T D management family conflict and adolescent metabolic control Results will be presented at diabetes meetings published in top tier journals to provide clinical and scientific evidence of the newly developed program and widely disseminated per the commercialization and marketing plan PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Type Diabetes T DM is a common chronic illness in children which presents difficult and often stressful management concerns for parents As children approach adolescence this burden increases with the desire for independence and self management No tool exists that addresses in a user friendly easy to access and socio culturally appropriate way the psychosocial needs of parents as they move through this transition This program targets the parents to help them at the very point where this transition i occurring