title: Personal illness models of diabetes: parents of preadolescents and adolescents.
abstract: The purpose of this research was to explore personal illness models of parents of preadolescents and adolescents regarding diabetes mellitus. Personal illness models were defined as the parents' cognitive representations of the disease. Fifty-five parents of children ages 10 to 17 years with a diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. Data were content analyzed for common themes. Parents attributed the cause of diabetes to genetics coupled with a viral infection. Most believed the diabetes would last a lifetime but they were hopeful for a cure. Parents requested ongoing education for their children, support groups, counseling, one consistent healthcare provider, and intensive insulin therapy. Parents reported that the major problems caused by diabetes were increased structure of daily routines and that their children with diabetes felt different from healthy peers. Parents' fears about diabetes included long-term complications, early death, and severe insulin reactions.
authors.affiliation: The Division of Patient Services, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (Mss Drozda, Allen, Turner and Dr McCain)
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Drozda
authors.affiliation: The Division of Patient Services, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (Mss Drozda, Allen, Turner and Dr McCain)
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: The Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (Ms Standiford)
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Standiford
authors.affiliation: The Division of Patient Services, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (Mss Drozda, Allen, Turner and Dr McCain)
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: The Division of Patient Services, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (Mss Drozda, Allen, Turner and Dr McCain)
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: McCain
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012803:Sick Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires