Family Factors in Young People With Diabetes: a Qualitative Study
Family Factors in Young People With Diabetes: a Qualitative Study
8 young people (aged 12-15yrs) with type 1 diabetes will be interviewed along with their
 families during this qualitative study. The interviews will explore factors identified by the
 young people and their families as important in diabetes management. Comparison of these
 factors will then be made between the young people with higher and lower HbA1c levels.
Family is an important factor in the self-management of type 1 diabetes by children and young
 people. Existing research has explored the experience of living with diabetes, considered
 from the perspective of children and parents, but has not provided children's diabetes teams
 with the information they need to support young people with higher blood glucose levels, and
 therefore higher risks of long term complications related to their diabetes.

 During this qualitative study the researcher will meet with young people (aged 12-15yrs) and
 their families for a joint interview, held in the family home, exploring the factors which
 they consider important in diabetes self-management.

 One interview will be held with each family. Recruitment of 8 families is planned.

 The interviews will be recorded and transcribed to allow thematic analysis, allowing
 identification of common factors considered to be important by families.

 The HbA1c of young people with diabetes is checked regularly in clinic and provides an
 assessment of blood glucose levels over the preceding months. Higher HbA1c levels are
 associated with higher risk of long term complications.

 The index young people will be recruited in 2 groups: one group will have lower risk of long
 term complications (identified by an HbA1c level of <58mmol/mol). The other will have higher
 risk (HbA1c 75-100mmol/mol). A comparison will be made between the families in each group, to
 identify which themes are more common in the lower or higher risk groups.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age 12 - 15 years (between their 12th and 16th birthday at recruitment)

 -  Type 1 diabetes diagnosed for at least 6 months

 -  Group 1: HbA1c <58mmols/mol on last known test

 -  Group 2: HbA1c ≥75mmols/mol and <100mmols/mol on last known test

 -  Willing to participate in group interview with at least one parent/carer

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Family currently identified as not suitable for lone visits

 -  Participants with inadequate English to take part in a semi-structured interview
 conducted in English

 -  Children and Young people for whom the last HbA1c incongruent with their previous
 results will be excluded