Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes Qualitative
George et al
1
Sara M. St. George, PhD
Elizabeth R. Pulgarón, PhD
Dina Ferranti, BSN, RN
Yaray Agosto, MPH
Maria I. Toro, BA
Kevin C. Ramseur
Alan M. Delamater, PhD
From the Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami
Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (Dr St. George); Department of
Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
(Dr Pulgarón, Ms Agosto, Ms Toro, Mr Ramseur, Dr Delamater); and
School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables,
Florida (Ms Ferranti).
Correspondence to Sara M. St. George, PhD, Department of Public
Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120
NW 14th Street, Suite 1009, Miami, FL 33136, USA (s.stgeorge@med
.miami.edu).
Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Funding: This research was supported by a grant from the National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to Alan
M. Delamater, PhD (R34 DK 066247).
DOI: 10.1177/0145721717691146
© 2017 The Author(s)
Purpose
The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to
explore cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial chal-
lenges associated with having and/or parenting an ado-
lescent with pediatric type 2 diabetes (T2D) from the
perspectives of ethnic minority parents and adolescents.
Methods
Ethnic minority (79.2% non-Hispanic black, 29.6%
Hispanic) adolescents (n = 14, 78.6% female, 14.7 ± 1.9
years) and their parents (n = 13, 100% female) partici-
pated in either individual family interviews or multifam-
ily focus group sessions. Sessions were audio recorded,
transcribed, and coded by a team of 4 raters. QSR NVivo
10 was used to perform a content analysis and to extract
coded adolescent and parent responses.
Results
Six themes corresponding to 3 broad categories (cogni-
tive, behavioral, and psychosocial challenges) emerged.
Regarding cognitive challenges, families described dif-
ficulties learning about a new disease and managing
youth knowledge deficits and/or superficial knowledge.
In terms of behavioral challenges, parents and adoles-
cents discussed ongoing difficulties with making and
maintaining positive youth health behavior changes as
well as with ensuring regimen adherence. Finally, managing
691146TDE XX X 10.1177/0145721717691146Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes QualitativeGeorge et al
research-article 2017
A Qualitative Study of Cognitive,
Behavioral, and Psychosocial
Challenges Associated With
Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes in
Ethnic Minority Parents and
Adolescents