Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: It is essential that children and young people with diabetes are supported to manage their diabetes effectively to prevent the development of early complications. However, the common clinical challenge is difficultly in engaging adolescents and young people to achieve good glycaemic control in their diabetes management. Solution Focus Therapy (SFBT) has been found to be especially beneficial with children, adolescents and teenagers because it is a brief model translated to all age groups. With this in mind, it is of interest to discover the attitudes, experiences and common themes a paediatric diabetes team shares whilst using SFBT and how it impacts on their delivery of care. Currently there has been no research to evaluate any diabetes team’s involvement with clinical health psychology. This qualitative study aims to evaluate the diabetes team’s experiences from using SFT in their delivery of diabetes care, discovering aspects that assist their work and providing a greater insight into the use of SFBT in a paediatric diabetes setting.

Methodology: A qualitative descriptive design which was undertaken as method for describing the team’s experiences with SFBT. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews within a specialist paediatrics diabetes team in the North West of England. The team consists of a Consultant Paediatrician, 3 specialist nurses, 1 patient educator and a specialist dietician. Face-to-face, semi structured interviews were conducted individually with each member. One independent researcher completed all interviews. Voice-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed by another independent researcher using a thematic approach to identify main themes.

Results: It was found that SFBT used within the team, improved self-reported confidence, skills, trust and relationships with patients and their families. Additionally, each team member reflected how patient and their families have responded positively to the SFT approach.

Conclusion: Evaluating staff experiences of utilising SFBT in the delivery of paediatric diabetes care highlighted that a team’s approach to SFBT is perceived to facilitate and support children, young people and their families in managing diabetes. The implications of SFBT for clinical practice and the dissemination of this approach to routine clinical practice should be explored.