Diabetes Count Too! Work · – Their role in the family –helper, destroyer, etc – Do they...
Transcript of Diabetes Count Too! Work · – Their role in the family –helper, destroyer, etc – Do they...
Siblings & Diabetes – They Count Too!Making “It” Work for everyone!
Joe Solowiejczyk, RN MSW CDEManager, Diabetes Counseling & Training
Background: Psychosocial Impact of Type 1 diabetes in Pediatrics
Most research conducted has looked at child with diabetes & parents – coping, parenting styles, etc.
Relatively little attention has been paid to the impact of diabetes on well siblings
Psychological development, behavioral responses, general coping strategies
General Observations:
• Positive:– Increased sensitivity – to sib & in general
– Increased sense of compassion for others
– Newly defined role in family as a “helper”
• Negative:– Internal psychological conflicts
– Higher anxiety levels
– Fear
– Increased physical & emotional vulnerability
Study #1
• Sharpe, D., Rossiter, L., Siblings with Children of a Chronic Illness; Journal of Pediatr. Psychol., (2002) 27 (8).
• Meta‐analysis of 51 published studies, found:– Psychological functioning (i.e., depression, anxiety), peer activities &
cognitive development scores were lower for siblings of children with a chronic illness as compared to controls.
– Parent reports were more negative than child self‐reports.
– Recommend intervention programs for siblings & families of children with a chronic illness should be developed/
Study #2• Fanos, J.H., Fahrner, K., Jelveh, M., King, R., Tejeda, D., The Sibling Center:
A Pilot program for Siblings of Children & Adolescents with a Serious Medical Condition, Journal of Pediatrics; vol. 146 (6) pp. 831‐835, June 2005.
• A pilot program focusing on entire family, seen together & separately, for 4 sessions with a 6 month follow‐up session.
– Program integrated into normal peds/specialty clinic.
– A form of psycho‐education which included psychosocial support, targeted interventions, resource identification & consciousness‐raising.
– Sibs were found to experience a variety of symptoms, including:
• Jealousy, attention‐seeking behavior, heightened sense of vulnerability, somatic expressions, anger, anxiety, depression, resentment & psychological and physical isolation from parents.
Study #3• Jackson C, Richer J, Edge, JA. Sibling psychological adjustment
to type 1 diabetes mellitus. Pediatric Diabetes 2008: 9(Part I): 308‐311.
• 41 families, cross sectional, self‐selected study, parents completed questionnaires measuring sibling adjustment, major life events, social support & parenting stress.
• Siblings completed questionnaires assessing functioning, coping strategies & completed a semi‐structured interview.
• Findings:– Majority of siblings of children with T1DM were well adjusted.
– Higher overall levels of parenting stress & parental adjustment significantly associated with sibling adjustment to T1DM.
Study #4• F. Sleeman, E.A. Northam, W. Crouch, F.J. Cameron.
Psychological adjustment of well siblings of children with Type 1 diabetes, Diabetic Medicine‐Diabetes UK, pp. 1084‐1087, 2010.
• 99 siblings, 11‐17 y.o. & parents of children with Type 1 DM, treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; siblings and parents administered the Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire; SDQ sib data and normative data sample compared.
• Findings:– Siblings did not report increased behavioral or emotional dysfunction
relative to children in the general population.
Questions/Discussion
Emotional Assessment: At risk considerations:
• Grief
• Sadness
• Fear
• Isolation
• Vulnerable
• Behavior
Contributing factors:
• Usual individual response to diagnosis
• Dysfunctional parental/family coping to diagnosis and daily management
• Lack of inclusion in treatment plan and education process
Behavioral Issues: “Outer” a reflection of “Inner”
• General behavior – acting out, aggressive, passive, isolating, moody
• Role in family – philosopher, jokester, etc.
• School
• Friends
• Clinging vs. Independent
Interventions: Preventative & Corrective:
• Check‐in with them regarding:– Their reactions, impressions and understanding of the
diagnosis and the on‐going disease management.
– Their role in the family – helper, destroyer, etc
– Do they think that will change now that their sib has diabetes.
– How they are feeling – scared, angry, sad, unsure.
• Include siblings in all aspects of clinical care– Initial hospitalization meetings, education sessions, family
meetings.
• Provide accurate & realistic explanations & reassurance
Interventions: Preventative & Corrective: Cont’d
• Explore family impressions & thoughts– from each family member
– out loud & in presence of sib, about how they think things will or will not change at home.
• Ask each family member exactly what it is that they are most frightened about regarding the diagnosis and daily living with diabetes.
• Ask for feedback from sib after eliciting the above – make sure that they (sibs) are clear and have had a chance to feel heard and acknowledged.
Interventions: Preventative & Corrective:
• Explore with family what things will look like when they get home and/or how they look at present.
• Specifically discuss family member roles now that diabetes is in their lives.
• Make a plan specifically tailored for the sib:– e.g., once a week parent(s) will spend non‐diabetes time with the well sib; come hell or high water, totally consistent and dependable
Questions/Discussion
Thank You&
May the Force be with You!
Joe Solowiejczyk, RN MSW CDE
Manager, Diabetes Counseling & Training
Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute
(484) 467‐0173