Characterising common challenges faced by parental caregivers of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus in mainland China: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES: The mental state of parental caregivers affects outcomes in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This study aimed to qualitatively examine perception of common challenges among parental caregivers of children with T1DM. SETTING: Semistructured interviews 45–60 min long were conducted with parental caregivers of children with T1DM. Interview recordings were transcribed and coded in NVivo V.11.0 to observe emergent themes. PARTICIPANTS: Eligible T1DM caregiving parents (parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s)) were identified from caregivers attending visits with children hospitalised or assessed in the Pediatric Neuroendocrinology Department of Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University in Shenyang from January 2018 to June 2019. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Not applicable. RESULTS: A total of 20 T1DM caregiving parents were interviewed, aged 30–53 years, including 7 fathers and 13 mothers, with their children whose mean age was 10.6±2.45 years. Content analysis revealed 5 major themes with 13 subthemes, including persistent psychological stress (catastrophic emotions, emotional distress and altered self-efficacy), family function change (altered family life patterns and changes in parental role/function), challenges in daily management (technical challenges, emotional regulation, parent–child conflict and transition of care autonomy from parent to child), financial burden (cost burden of treatment and altered family economics), and lack of social support (social activity limitations and insufficient support system). CONCLUSIONS: The period of emotional disturbance during initial diagnosis, psychological stresses of long-term caregiving, and conflict emerging from transition from parental to child responsibility all can cause psychological response detrimental to parental caregivers and children with T1DM. This work provides compelling evidence for the role of assessment and intervention in parental caregivers’ psychological and emotional well-being in diabetes care, as well as for the necessity of improved social and school support for children with T1DM in China.