Re-examining a measure of diabetes-related burden in parents of young people with Type 1 diabetes: the Problem Areas in Diabetes Survey - Parent Revised version (PAID-PR).

AIMS

In a pediatric patients, the burden of diabetes lies within the family. In the current era of intensive insulin therapy, perceived parental burden may affect the family's efforts at effective diabetes management. The aims of this study were to re-examine and revise a measure of perceived parental burden associated with caring for a child with diabetes in the current era.

METHODS

A geographically diverse population of young people (N = 376) with Type 1 diabetes and their parents included participants in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation continuous glucose monitoring study and patients from the Joslin Diabetes Center. Participants provided data on demographics, diabetes management, diabetes-specific family conflict, and quality of life at baseline and after 6 months of follow-up.

RESULTS

Young people were 12.9 ± 2.7 years old with diabetes duration of 6.3 ± 3.5 years. Mean HbA(1C) was 8.0 ± 1.2%(64 mmol/mol), 58% received insulin pump therapy, and young people monitored blood glucose 5.2 ± 2.3 times/day. Factor analysis yielded two factors, 'Immediate Burden' and 'Theoretical Burden'. The Problem Areas in Diabetes Survey - Parent Revised version (PAID-PR) demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.87; factor 1 α = 0.78; factor 2 α = 0.83). Greater parental burden was associated with more frequent blood glucose monitoring, higher HbA(1C) levels, greater diabetes-specific family conflict, and lower quality of life. Test-retest analysis was acceptable (r = 0.62).

CONCLUSIONS

The PAID-PR demonstrated excellent internal consistency, good test-retest reliability, and associations with diabetes-specific family conflict and quality of life. This brief measure may have both clinical and research utility in the management of young people with Type 1 diabetes.