Introduction and Objective: Youth with T1D experience multilevel systemic obstacles to care and psychosocial challenges. Alternative care models that include virtual peer groups (VPG) and person-centered care (PCC) increase satisfaction and engagement, and improve T1D-related outcomes. In a 15-month randomized pragmatic trial of Team Clinic, including PCC and T1D-focused VPG for youth and their families, youth showed increases in resilience and decreases in depressive symptoms. To explore unmet T1D care needs of trial participants via qualitative analyses of post-study focus groups. Methods: English speaking youth (ages 10-17) and their families from the trial were invited to participate in hour long, virtual focus groups. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using the Rapid Group Analysis Process. Results: 10 youth (8 female; 3 Latinx; 5 publicly insured) and 14 families participated. On average, youth were 13.5±1.3 years old, with a T1D duration of 4.1±2.5 years and post-trial A1c of 7.7%±3.8. Seven themes emerged: Dissatisfaction with care, T1D management challenges, T1D-related distress, Positive experiences with Team Clinic, Benefits of VPG, Advice for T1D families, and Suggestions to improve T1D care (see figure). Conclusion: Participants shared their dire need for more psychosocial and care management support at the time of diagnosis and suggested changes in care models (e.g., visit frequency, modality). Disclosure J. Flores Garcia: None. M. Visser: None. A. Torres Sanchez: None. B. Manzanarez: None. M.W. Reid: None. S. Salvy: None. V.F. Ruelas: None. J. Raymond: None. Funding This research was funded by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and the grant-award number is 2019PG-T1D030.
Garcia et al. (Fri,) studied this question.