Web-Based Questionnaire for Healthcare Professionals on Psychosocial Support for Adolescents and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence and young adulthood is a challenging period, particularly for those living with chronic disease such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). Effective professional support is associated with better diabetes outcomes, but little is known about what determines healthcare professionals’ decision-making for therapeutic intervention, and how to support this. Our study aimed to determine healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) self-rated awareness, capability, opportunity and motivation to provide support for psychosocial issues in the management of T1D with adolescents and young adults; and to identify factors independently predictive of HCPs’ perceptions of their confidence in, and perceived importance of, addressing psychosocial issues in this population. Methods: Survey design was used, and data collected using an anonymous web-based questionnaire based on the Capability–Opportunity–Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) framework. The study was advertised to members of the Australian Diabetes Society, and National Association of Diabetes Centres. Results: Of 98 respondents, 57 (58.2%) were female. Confidence and perceived importance summary scores were not significantly associated with demographic characteristics. HCPs agreed that both diabetes-dependent and external non-diabetes-specific influences were important components of psychosocial management, but self-rated themselves as less confident in their ability to provide care for these aspects. Few respondents regularly encountered psychosocial issues that they believed would lead to improved outcomes if addressed and not all HCPs knew how to access psychosocial support for their adolescent patients. Conclusion: Our findings indicate discrepancies between HCPs’ self-rated capability and perceived motivation to provide support relating to psychosocial issues in the management of T1D for adolescents and young adults. Equitable opportunities are needed for training and support, to increase HCPs’ understanding and hence their perceptions of the importance and of their confidence in addressing psychosocial issues, especially considering the high levels of risk of these young people for such problems.