Dietary issues facing parents of the under 5s with type 1 diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the issues around food that parents face when caring for a child under 5 years old with type 1 diabetes? What further support is needed?
IRAS ID
189056
Contact name
Martin Walsh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Beckett University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 16 days
Research summary
Why?
Although it is known from anecdotal reports that parents of children under the age of 5 with type 1 diabetes have additional difficulties in managing their childrens' chronic condition because of their age and stage of development, there is very little qualitative research in this area to explore this and formally record and analyse these voices. Understanding the challenges from parents/carers' perspectives will enable the development of improved education and support for this population. It is anticipated that this will improve quality of life for families as well as improve blood glucose control for the children in this age range.Who?/What? How?
This study will involve gathering data from a focus group (of 8-12 participants) and in-depth interviews with the parents/main carers of children aged 5 or below who have type 1 diabetes. These will be facilitated by the primary researcher and based on experience of working as a Dietitian with children of this age and also consulting an expert patient. The aim of the research is to explore the issues around feeding that they have encountered since their child was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and gain a deeper understanding of the diet related difficulties faced from their perspective. In addition, the study aims to look at what advice or tools have been found helpful and what further support options could be provided. These will be reviewed with carers to obtain their views on whether they would have found such support to be helpful.Where?
Focus groups will be held in a meeting room at the hospital but away from the main clinical area usually attended by families. In-depth interviews will be carried out at participant's homes. Both focus groups and interviews will last around 90 minutes in total with time for informal chatting before the event and set up included.REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0408
Date of REC Opinion
16 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion