Evaluation of a programme of group visits and computer-assisted consultations in the treatment of adolescents with Type 1 diabetes

• Published in: Diabetic medicine Vol. 22; no. 11; pp. 1522 - 1529
• Main Authors: Graue, M., Wentzel-Larsen, T., Hanestad, B. R., Søvik, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.11.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Counseling - methods; Counseling - standards; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - therapy; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Health Status; health-related quality of life; Humans; intervention; Male; Medical sciences; metabolic control; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Patient Education as Topic - standards; Patient Satisfaction; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Type 1 diabetes; Norway; Endocrinopathy; Human; Immunopathology; metabolic control; Autoimmune disease; Metabolism; Health-Related Quality of Life; Treatment; Type 1 diabetes; Adolescent; Consultation; intervention; Computer aid
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2005.01689.x

Aim  To examine the effects of group visits and computer‐assisted consultations on quality of life and glycaemic control in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Methods  A total of 116 adolescents, aged 11–17 years, and their parents were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 62) or a control group (n = 54). The intervention group was invited to a 15‐month programme comprising group visits and computer‐assisted consultations. The control group was offered traditional out‐patient consultations. Outcomes included changes in HbA1c and the adolescents’ assessment of generic and disease‐specific health‐related quality of life measured by the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ‐CF87) and the Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire (DQOL), respectively. Results  One hundred and one adolescents (55/46) agreed to participate, mean age 14.2 years (sd 1.5), mean diabetes duration 6.5 years (sd 3.6, range 1–16 years), mean HbA1c 9.3% (sd 1.4, range 6.1–12.8%). Eighty‐three (72%) completed the questionnaires at follow‐up (intervention/control 45/38). There were significant age by randomization group interactions for diabetes‐related impact (P = 0.018), diabetes‐related worries (P = 0.004), mental health (P = 0.046) and general behaviour (P = 0.029), implying that the intervention was effective in older adolescents (above 13–14 years). No significant effects on mean HbA1c were identified. Conclusions  Group visits and computer‐assisted consultations had beneficial effects on health‐related quality of life in older adolescents, the role of this intervention being questionable in younger adolescents.