Reach and Response to a 5-Day Structured-Education Program for Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes – The TEAM T1 Program — ASN Events
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  3. Reach and Response to a 5-Day Structured-Education Program for Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes – The TEAM T1 Program

Reach and Response to a 5-Day Structured-Education Program for Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes – The TEAM T1 Program (#54)

Kimberley Duggan-Larkin 1 , Eileen Collins 1 , Virginia Hagger 1 2 3 , Christel Hendrieckx 2 3 , Jane Speight 2 3 , Andrew Cotterill 4
  1. Diabetes Australia - Vic, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  3. Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic, Australia
  4. Mater Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia

Aim: Teens Empowered to Actively Manage Type 1 Diabetes (TEAM T1) is a structured education program for adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The program aims to enhance diabetes self-management skills at an age when engagement with T1D often deteriorates. Our aims were to 1) report participants’ demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics, and 2) assess their perceptions of the program and reasons for attending.

Methods:  Participant demographic and clinical data were collected from medical records. Participants completed a pre-program survey measuring emotional well-being (WHO-5) and an anonymous feedback survey post-program about their experiences of taking part in TEAM T1.  

Results: From April 2013 to April 2015, 31 programs ran in 12 centres (5 states/territories). 159 adolescents attended: (mean±SD) age 16±1 years; 47% boys; T1D duration 6±5 years; 23% from low socioeconomic areas. Pre-program, adolescents’ HbA1c was 72±21 mmol/mol (8.7±1.9%); 72% had HbA1c above ISPAD/APEG target (<58 mmol/mol (<7.5%)) and 37% reported impaired emotional well-being (WHO-5 <50). The main reasons stated for attending were: to learn more about diabetes (29%), my parents made/encouraged me (26%), and to improve diabetes self-management (18%). 89% attended all 5 days and 95% would recommend the program to others.  Adolescents reported the most helpful aspects as: getting to know other teens with diabetes (44%) and learning more about diabetes (23%). Post-program, adolescents most commonly planned to: undertake more accurate carbohydrate counting (33%), adjust insulin doses (24%), and check blood glucose more frequently (12%).

Conclusions: TEAM T1 reached a typical group of teens with T1D: three quarters with above target HbA1c and one third experiencing poor well-being. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Participants found TEAM T1 useful and enjoyable, and valued the friendships and peer support they experienced. They planned to implement newly-acquired knowledge and skills. Further evaluation of participant outcomes is underway.