Teenagers' perceptions of factors affecting decision-making competence in the management of type 1 diabetes.

AIMS

Decision-making is an important prerequisite for empowerment. The aim of this study was to explore teenagers' perceptions of factors affecting decision-making competence in diabetes management.

BACKGROUND

A previous study that assessed an empowerment programme for teenagers with diabetes showed no effects on metabolic control or empowerment outcomes, which is not in accordance with results from studies on adult diabetes patients. The definition of empowerment highlights the patient's own responsibility for decision-making. Earlier studies have shown that many teenagers' may not be mature in decision-making competence until late adolescence. To explore the significance of decision-making competence on the effectiveness of empowerment education we wanted to explore teenagers' own view on factors affecting this competence.

DESIGN

An explorative, qualitative interview study was conducted with 31 teenagers with type 1 diabetes, aged 12-17 years.

METHODS

The teenagers were interviewed two weeks after completing an empowerment education programme. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Five categories stood out as important for decision-making competence: cognitive maturity, personal qualities, experience, social network and parent involvement. Based on the content in the interviews and the five categories, we made an interpretation and formulated an overall theme: 'Teenagers deserve respect and support for their short-comings during the maturity process'.

CONCLUSION

Our conclusion is that teenagers deserve respect for their immature decision-making competence. Decision-making competence was described as cognitive abilities, personal qualifications and experience. To compensate for the deficiencies the teenagers deserve constructive support from their social network and the essential support is expected to come from their parents.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

These findings can be useful for diabetes team members in supporting teenagers with diabetes and their parents both in individual meetings and when planning and delivering group education.