Attitudes to psychological groups in a paediatric and adolescent diabetes service--implications for service delivery.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the potential interest in psychology support groups in a paediatric and adolescent diabetes service.


METHODS
A short semi-structured interview using both open and closed questions to generate quantitative and qualitative data. Sixty-four parents were interviewed on the telephone by an assistant psychologist.


RESULTS
The majority of parents (81%) reported an interest in participating in a psychology group if it was offered, but preferences varied between a child/young person group (33%), parents only (15%) or family groups (11%). Twenty-three percent said that they would prefer individual work rather than a group. Parents identified groups as an opportunity to acquire practical knowledge, exchange ideas in an informal setting, share a common reality with others and gain more confidence in managing diabetes together with their child. Reasons not to attend a group included parents being able to cope well at the moment, school demands, feeling uncomfortable speaking in front of a group and use of online support groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of parents identified psychological support as having a role for families living with diabetes. The audit highlighted that families have different ideas about how they would prefer this support to look and emphasized the need to consult with service users when designing psychological support for young people and families living with a chronic condition.
Christie
Deborah
D
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychological Services, University College London Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. deborah.christie@uclh.nhs.uk
Romano
Gabriella M
GM
Thompson
Rebecca
R
Viner
Russell M
RM
Hindmarsh
Peter C
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D055815:Young Adult