Abstract

COSTA, Marília  and  GAMEIRO, Manuel Gonçalves Henriques. Self-care of adolescents with type 1 diabetes: responsibility for disease management. Rev. Enf. Ref. [online]. 2016, vol.serIV, n.9, pp.9-19. ISSN 0874-0283.  https://doi.org/10.12707/RIV16010.

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an increasingly prevalent disease in adolescence. Intervening in self-care is essential for disease management. Objectives: To determine the responsibility of adolescents with T1D for self-care roles, and analyze the relationship between the responsibility of adolescents with T1D for self-care roles and age and gender. Methodology: A descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 51 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years being followed up in district hospitals of the center region of Portugal. A scale on the responsibility for self-care roles was applied. This scale consisted of 15 questions distributed by 4 dimensions: health maintenance; disease management; diagnosis, treatment and medication in T1D; and participation in health services. Results: Most adolescents assume a high responsibility for self-care. Gender has no influence on the overall responsibility. Boys are more responsible in terms of managing insulin administration. Conclusion: Adolescents assume personal responsibility for disease management. The sharing of responsibility with parents or others and the participation in health services are highlighted.

Keywords : adolescent; diabetes mellitus, type 1; self-care; nursing.

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