SA Mulvaney et al. Self-management problem solving for adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Intervention processes associated with an Internet program. Patient Education & Counseling, October 26, 2010.

Mulvaney and associates described intervention processes associated with an Internet self-management problem solving program for adolescents with type 1 diabetes, and to relate participant characteristics to program use. Forty-one adolescents with type 1 diabetes, aged 13-17, participated in an Internet self-management intervention. Participants reported psychosocial self-management barriers related to social issues (45%), time pressures (22%), and emotions (25%). Most adolescents (76%) completed the two-guided problem solving cycles, and most (97%) problems were appropriate and specific to diabetes. Of the 61 diabetes problems reported, 92% were mostly or completely solved. Baseline hemoglobin A1c, diabetes duration, and age were not related to online activities; however, females posted more often to the forum (U=130.0, Z=2.13, p=.033). The majority of parents (87%) interacted with their child about the website.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: Adolescents experience psychosocial barriers to self-management that can be addressed by teaching problem solving via the Internet. An Internet self-management problem- solving program with minimal external support provides a viable option for diabetes clinics to improve pediatric diabetes outcomes.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE CONSUMER: The Internet is an excellent to use with adolescents to teach self-management skills.
As noted in the study, it was especially useful in teaching participants to solve the many issues that arise in their daily living because of Type 1 diabetes