Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Interior Health Authority, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
Diabet Med. 2021 May;38(5):e14534. doi: 10.1111/dme.14534. Epub 2021 Feb 24.
To investigate the mental health needs of adults with type 1 diabetes living in rural and remote regions of Interior, British Columbia (BC) and identify factors associated with accessing support. We also explored perspectives around using peer support and digital health strategies for delivering mental health support.
This study recruited 38 adults with type 1 diabetes to complete a self-report survey and participate in focus groups. We conducted six 90-min focus groups that addressed the following: current and past mental health needs, social media use for type 1 diabetes support, peer supporter recruitment and training, and support delivery features for virtual care platforms. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, quality checked, coded and analysed to develop themes and subthemes.
Four core themes emerged: (1) emotional challenges linked to type 1 diabetes management, (2) unique type 1 diabetes-related concerns in rural and remote communities, (3) previous support experiences and future support needs and (4) diabetes-related mental health support interventions involving peer support and digital health strategies. Existing support services are inadequate in meeting the needs of type 1 diabetes adults in Interior BC. Some have turned towards social media as a way to connect with the type 1 diabetes community for support.
Though type 1 diabetes adults living in rural and remote settings experience distress associated with the ongoing burdens, frustrations and fears of managing a complex chronic condition, many have not been offered support and do not know how to seek services in the present/future. Peer support and digital health strategies are two potential solutions to address this care gap.
调查不列颠哥伦比亚省内陆地区农村和偏远地区 1 型糖尿病成年患者的心理健康需求，并确定与获得支持相关的因素。我们还探讨了使用同伴支持和数字健康策略提供心理健康支持的观点。
本研究招募了 38 名 1 型糖尿病患者完成自我报告调查并参加焦点小组。我们进行了六次 90 分钟的焦点小组讨论，讨论了以下内容：当前和过去的心理健康需求、社交媒体用于 1 型糖尿病支持、同伴支持者的招募和培训，以及虚拟护理平台的支持交付功能。焦点小组的录音、转录、质量检查、编码和分析被用来开发主题和子主题。
出现了四个核心主题：（1）与 1 型糖尿病管理相关的情绪挑战，（2）农村和偏远社区特有的与 1 型糖尿病相关的问题，（3）以前的支持经验和未来的支持需求，以及（4）涉及同伴支持和数字健康策略的糖尿病相关心理健康支持干预措施。现有的支持服务不足以满足不列颠哥伦比亚省内陆地区 1 型糖尿病患者的需求。一些人已经转向社交媒体，以此作为与 1 型糖尿病社区建立联系以获得支持的一种方式。
尽管生活在农村和偏远地区的 1 型糖尿病成年人经历了与管理复杂慢性病相关的持续负担、挫折和恐惧相关的困扰，但许多人没有得到支持，也不知道如何在现在/将来寻求服务。同伴支持和数字健康策略是解决这一护理差距的两种潜在解决方案。
