title: The narrative-autobiographical approach in the group education of adolescents with diabetes: a qualitative research on its effects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce a narrative-autobiographical approach in the care and education of adolescents with type-1 diabetes and observe the effects of this novel approach on adolescents' self-awareness, concern for self-care, and well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-four adolescents with type-1 diabetes attending one 9-day summer camp in 2004, 2005, or 2006 participated in structured daily self-writing proposals on diabetes, integrated with daily interactive self-management education. After some months, we sent participants interview-like questionnaires, and two independent researchers performed a qualitative analysis of the 50 answers that were mailed back.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Writing about the discovery of diabetes was, for many, a stressful experience, but with a strong liberating effect. One relevant point was change, which occurred: (a) in the perception of self; (b) in the relationship with others; (c) in the relationship with the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The integration of autobiography in diabetes camps, by adding the value of sharing individual stories to the liberating power of self-writing, can allow the adolescents to overcome their feelings of diversity, and can initiate several changes reflecting increased self-efficacy, maturity, acceptance of the disease and responsibility in self-management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-writing is feasible and well accepted, and provides healthcare professionals a proper way to patient-centered care.
authors.affiliation: CURIAMO (University Research Centre on Physical Activity), Department of Internal Medicine, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piana
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maldonato
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bloise
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Careddu
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fraticelli
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mereu
authors.forename: Giannermete
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001325:Autobiographies as Topic; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D033262:Narration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014956:Writing