6771 Quality of life survey of children and young people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Objectives National guidelines highlight the importance of reviewing the clinical needs of Children and Young People with Diabetes (CYPD) and delivering a service to improve their Quality of Life (QoL).¹ The aim of this survey was to assess the QoL of CYPD in our local unit, which caters to a diverse population, to better understand their clinical and psychological needs. This would enable advocacy for specialised support with the goal of better compliance with care plans, improving treatment outcomes and overall wellbeing. Methods The DAWN Youth Questionnaire² was selected as the patient survey tool as it is specific for the diabetes population and is validated for this age-group. Consent of use and copyright's permission was sought from the original authors. The questionnaire includes questions covering six sub-sections; impact of symptoms, treatment and activities, parent issues (exploring the child-parent relationship), worries about diabetes (complications) and health perception. An anonymous electronic patient survey was sent to the patient population aged 10–18 years with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. A total of 315 families received the survey and results were collated over a six- week period in April – May 2023. Results Of 315, 65 patients responded (21%) and 53.8% were female with a mean age of 13.8 years (±2.4 SD). 61 patients had type 1 diabetes; 72.3% used continuous glucose monitoring and 49.2% had an insulin pump. Mean normative scoring were as follows with a higher score indicating a higher negative impact on QoL: Impact of symptoms 4.6 out of 12 (±2.2), impact of treatment 4.3 out of 12 (±2.8), impact on activities 5.4 out of 20 (±4.2), parent issues 6.0 out of 12 (±3.4), worries about diabetes 7.8 out of 28 (±6.9). The total QoL score (n=65) was 28.1 out of 84 (±15.3) and health perception was 2.2 out of 4 (±0.8). The corresponding standardized scores were as follows: impact of symptoms 13.2, impact of treatment 11.0, impact on activities 2.0, parent issues 25.1, worries about diabetes 8.4 and health perception 40.5. Conclusion This survey highlighted the need for exploring hidden concerns in CYPD during routine clinic consultations. Of note 'health perception' and the 'child-parent relationship' are issues of particular importance and can be addressed with targeted support, for example specialised input via family therapy and implementing a practice of all staff making regular wellbeing checks during patient contact. This with the aim of improving the motivation and engagement of CYPD and their treatment outcomes. References NICE QS125 Diabetes in children and young people, Quality Statement 6 Access to mental health professionals with an understanding of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Skinner, TC, Hoey, H, McGee, HM, Skovlund, SE. A short form of the quality of life for youth questionnaire: exploratory and confirmatory analysis in a sample of 2,077 young people with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia 2006;49:621–628.