Existing measures of diabetes-specific support for use with adolescents with diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to review existing measures of diabetes-specific support for use with adolescents with type 1 diabetes.


METHODS
Diabetes-specific support scales for use with adolescents with type 1 diabetes were reviewed in terms of the dimension of support measured as well as reported reliability and validity.


RESULTS
The scales measure enacted and/or perceived support. However, various support categories are measured: supportive and nonsupportive by the Diabetes Family Behavior Checklist (DFBC); warmth and guidance/control by the Diabetes Family Behavior Scale (DFBS); instrumental, informational, companionship/belonging, and emotional by the Diabetes Social Support Interview (DSSI); insulin administration, glucose monitoring, meals, exercise, and emotional support by the Diabetes Social Support Questionnaire-Family Version (DSSQ-Family) and the Diabetes Social Support Questionnaire-Friends Version (DSSQ-Friends); and guidance for autonomy development by the Diabetes-Specific Parental Support for Adolescents' Autonomy Scale (DPSAAS). The DSSI, DSSQ-Family, DSSQ-Friends, the DFBS, and DPSAAS have adequate reliability. Predictive validity is suggested in that diabetes management was related to the DFBC supportive subscale, the DSSI, the DSSQ-Family, and the DSSQ-Friends; metabolic control was related to the DFBS total score and guidance subscale; and diabetes management responsibility was related to the DPSAAS.


CONCLUSIONS
Health care professionals need to decide which aspects of support are relevant to measure in their specific situation.
Hanna
Kathleen M
KM
Family Health Department, Indiana University School of Nursing, 1111 Middle Drive, NU451F, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. kathanna@iupui.edu
D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011643:Publishing