title: Conceptions of diabetes and diabetes care in young people with minority backgrounds.
abstract: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) need stable self-care routines for good metabolic control to minimize future cardiovascular health complications. These routines are demanding, and might be particularly challenging in underprivileged groups. The aim of this study was to gain in-depth knowledge on the experience of adolescents with T1DM and a non-Swedish background regarding factors that might influence their ability to take care of themselves; in particular, factors that might influence diabetes management routines, their social situation, and the support they receive from caregivers. We interviewed 12 adolescents with T1DM and minority backgrounds. The results indicated resources and constraints in the adolescents' social context and in the health care organization. The adolescents developed conceptions that helped to explain and excuse their self-care failures, and their successes. These findings highlight the importance of integrating T1DM as part of the individual's personal prerequisites. We discuss implications for the organization of diabetes care for adolescents.
authors.affiliation: University West, Trollhättan, Sweden ase.boman@hv.se.
authors.forename: Åse
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Boman
authors.affiliation: University West, Trollhättan, Sweden.
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bohlin
authors.affiliation: University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eklöf
authors.affiliation: University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forsander
authors.affiliation: University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Törner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration; D012648:Self Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: adolescents / youth, at-risk; children; diabetes; health behavior; health care; phenomenography