A Nonrandomized Pilot of a Group, Video-Based Telehealth Intervention to Reduce Diabetes Distress in Parents of Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Objectives: Our aim in this study was to refine and pilot a video-based telehealth intervention to reduce diabetes distress, depressive symptoms and hypoglycemia fear in parents of school-age children with type 1 diabetes and to assess for changes in child glycated hemoglobin (A1C). Methods: We recruited 41 parents of children (5 to 12 years) to participate in a manualized, video-based telehealth intervention (Cognitive Adaptions to Reduce Emotional Stress [CARES]). Of these, 29 parents completed either a 12-week (n=13) or 8-week (n=16) version of CARES based on the timing of their recruitment. We assessed feasibility (i.e. attrition, attendance) and parent satisfaction with CARES. We used repeated-measures analysis of variance with parent group (8 vs 12 sessions) as a between-subject variable and time as a within-subject variable to measure change in our dependent variables. Results: Mostly mothers participated (97.3%). Parents' mean agewas 39.65 +/- 6.84 years and children's mean agewas 9.86 +/- 1.57 years at pretreatment. CARES had lowattrition (20% to 25%) and good attendance (96% to 98%). Parents also reported high levels of treatment satisfaction (> 85%). There were significant main effects for time for parent-reported diabetes distress and depressive symptoms at posttreatment and 3-month follow-up. There was a statistical trend suggesting a time x group interaction for parent depressive symptoms at posttreatment. There was a significant main effect for time for hypoglycemia fear at the 3-month follow-up but no change at posttreatment. There was no change in child A1C at posttreatment. Conclusion: CARES showed high parent satisfaction, good feasibility and promising results for reducing diabetes distress in parents of school-age children with type 1 diabetes. (C) 2021 Canadian Diabetes Association.

Automated summary

The study aimed to refine and pilot a video-based telehealth intervention to reduce diabetes distress, depressive symptoms, and hypoglycemia fear in parents of school-age children with type 1 diabetes, as well as assess changes in child glycated hemoglobin (A1C). The results showed high parent satisfaction, good feasibility, and promising results for reducing diabetes distress in parents of children with type 1 diabetes.