The DAWN Youth WebTalk Study: methods, findings, and implications

It has long been understood that psychosocial issues are important to an understanding of diabetes among young people. The diagnosis and management of diabetes places a substantial burden on youths and their families. This burden may disrupt normal developmental processes, and can have a major impact on psychosocial adjustment and successful disease management. The multinational DAWN Study was a pioneering effort to identify psychosocial barriers to optimal health and quality of life of people with diabetes and new ways to overcome those barriers. The DAWN Study interviewed more than 5000 adults with diabetes and almost 4000 diabetes care professionals, but did not include children and young people with diabetes, their families, or their care providers because it was recognized that diabetes in young people presents different psychosocial issues and challenges than diabetes in adults, and that a separate study would be required to identify opportunities to improve outcomes among young people with diabetes and their families. This realization gave rise to the DAWN Youth WebTalk Study. The objectives of this study were to: gain understanding of the challenges and issues facing young people with diabetes and those with responsibility for supporting them; identify new avenues for improving the psychosocial management of diabetes among young people; stimulate new efforts to improve care for young people with diabetes and their families. This paper presents an initial overview of the methods and findings of the DAWN Youth WebTalk Study and discusses some of the implications of those findings.