Self-management needs of adolescents with type 1 diabetes on transition to adult health care: a qualitative study.

This study is to explore the self-management needs of adolescents with type 1 diabetes from the perspective of those who are currently undergoing or have recently completed the period of healthcare transition. One-on-one in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 adolescents between July 2024 and September 2024. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling at a tertiary hospital in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The researchers utilized a content analysis method based on an information-motivation-behavioral skills framework. This study identified three primary themes and 12 sub-themes: (1) Filling the gaps in limited knowledge: access to specific information (disease medical information, healthcare transition information, and future planning information); (2) Promoting proactive transitional management: strengthening intrinsic and extrinsic motivations (strengthening intrinsic motivation: personalizing transition goals, and strengthening extrinsic motivation: giving positive feedback); (3) Responding to the challenges of healthcare transition: acquiring self-management skills (healthcare management skills, healthy living management skills, managing negative mood disorders, desire needed support over parents' misconceptions, fighting loneliness through shared experiences, self-advocacy skills, and navigating the adult healthcare system).

conclusionOur findings highlight the participants' needs for information, motivation, and self-management skills. A thorough understanding of the self-management needs of adolescents with type 1 diabetes is conducive to facilitating a more successful and supportive transition in these patient groups which will ultimately improve their long-term health outcomes and quality of life. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Healthcare transition is a necessary stage, when adolescents with type 1 diabetes transfer to an adult healthcare system, and self-management ability is a critical factor in transition readiness. • The self-management needs of adolescents with type 1 diabetes are multidimensional. WHAT IS NEW: • Adolescents with type 1 diabetes generally lack awareness of information related to healthcare transition and are eager to provide information for future planning. Positive feedback and practical plans can effectively motivate them towards self-management. • Adolescents with type 1 diabetes require programs that encompass multiple self-management skills to enable them to cope flexibly with the challenges of the healthcare transition.