Table 2.

Description of Qualitative Research

Author	Method	Purpose	Sample Characteristics	Findings
Bowes et al 200935	Qualitative study with in-depth interviews	To explore parents’ longer term experience of having a child with type 1 diabetes	N = 17 (10 mothers, 7 fathers) Child age: range 9–23 y T1DM duration: 7–10 y Wales, UK	Diagnosis: Grief, some blamed themselves. Experience over time: Became accustomed to daily tasks and accepted routine as part of life. Never really accepted diagnosis. Recurring feelings of sadness. Felt “alone.” Stress: Practical management of diabetes was difficult. Knowledge of consequences. Constant worry. Transition to adolescence. Sources of support: Taking it in blocks of time. Support groups for some.
Buckloh et al 200836	Qualitative description with focus groups	To explore parents’ experience of learning about diabetes complications	N = 47 (30 mothers, 14 fathers, 3 other) Child age :13.2 y (2.5) T1DM duration: 4.5 y Diversity = 15% US	Diagnosis: Emotional time with depression, sadness, anxiety. Overwhelmed. Focused on diabetes management. Experience over time: Adolescence difficulty and frustrating. Stress: Anxiety over long-term complications. Concerns over insurance, life span of child. Sources of support: Having optimism.
Edmonds- Myles et al 201034	Qualitative description	To explore psychosocial impact of T1DM in low-income families	N = 21 Child age: 10–18 y T1DM duration: 4.0–6.3 y Diversity: 66% US	Experience over time: Began to adjust to diagnosis and T1DM care. Some felt that nothing was easier over time. Stress: Constant worry. Time-consuming regimen. Responsibility and hypervigilance. Financial pressures. Single parenthood. Sources of support: Professionals for white families. Friends and family for some. Faith. Humor.
Faulkner 199637	Descriptive with interviews	To explore how parents respond to school-age child with T1DM	N = 27 (from 7 families) Child age: 10.7 y T1DM duration: 4.6 y Diversity not reported US	Diagnosis: Shock, anger, denial, fear of child death. Experience over time: Learning. T1DM care difficult at times. Began to share T1DM with child. Mothers mostly provided care. Stress: Insulin reactions. Worry about complications. Giving injections. Causing pain to child. Sources of support: Faith. Not allowing T1DM to consume life.
Hatton et al 199532	Qualitative interpretive (phenomenology)	To generate understanding of parents’ experience of infant or toddler with T1DM	N = 8 (2-parent families) Child age: 1.5 y T1DM: New to 2.5 y Canada	Diagnosis: Horrifying experience. Fear of child death. Overwhelmed. Very emotional (shock, grief, sadness). Exhausted. Social isolation. Experience over time: Struggles with growing child and child need for independence. Challenge with school. Stress: Taking child home. Immense responsibility. Complex and all-pervading regimen. Inflicting pain on child. Unpredictable blood sugar. Sources of support: Professionals. Sharing responsibility with spouse.
Lowes et al 200458	Qualitative approach with in-depth interviews	To explore parents’ experience of having child with T1DM >1 y	N = 38 Child age: not reported New diagnosis Wales, UK	Diagnosis: Shocked, distressed, overwhelmed. Experience over time: Routines established. Becoming more flexible. Promoting “normal life.” Continued sense of loss. Loss of spontaneity. Maintaining vigilance. Stress: Hypoglycemia. Inexplicable highs and lows. Constant worry. Sources of support: Professionals. Take it 1 day at a time. Other people with knowledge of T1DM. Optimism.
Lowes et al 200531	Qualitative longitudinal (Hermeneutics)	To explore parents’ experiences of child with T1DM >1 y	N = 38 Child age: not reported New diagnosis Wales, UK	Diagnosis: Shocked, distressed, grief, fear, ill-prepared for situation. Experience over time: Still aware of losses (control, healthy child, etc). Feelings of sadness and guilt. More confident about T1DM care. Developing a routine. Stress: Constant worry. Constant planning around T1DM care. Sources of support: Optimism
Marshall et al 200939	Phenomenology	To explore parental experience of child with T1DM from diagnosis onward	N = 11 (10 mothers, 1 father) T1DM duration: 10 m to 8 y Some diversity, but statistics not reported UK	Diagnosis: Grief, loss of healthy child, confidence Experience over time: Disruption in family patterns and parent–child relationship. Stress: Inflicting pain on child. Transition of T1DM care to child.
Mellin et al 200459	Content analysis	To explore parents’ perceptions of impact of T1DM on family	N = 30 (24 mothers, 6 fathers) Child age: 17.7 y (4.1) T1DM duration: 7.7 y (4.1) Diversity = 16% US	Diagnosis: Huge emotional impact. Guilt. Experience over time: Organized home life around T1DM care Stress: Long-term complications. Constant burden and responsibility for diabetes care. Keeping blood sugar regulated. Change of own lifestyle. Sources of support: Maintaining positive attitude.
Seppanen et al 199960	Case study	To explore process of parental coping and experiences of social support	N = 2 (2-parent families) Child age: 3 and 4 y Newly diagnosed Finland	Diagnosis: Guilt and lack of information. Disbelief. Highly motivated to learn care. Experience over time: Reorganized life. Felt alone in responsibility for child’s care. Stress: Injections. Very demanding regimen. Nighttime blood glucose. Focus on meals and eating. Child rebellion. Sources of support: Professionals. Relatives and friends. Emotional support from spouse and shared responsibility. Positive attitude.
Smaldone et al 20115	Content analysis	To explore perceptions of psychosocial adaptation in parenting young children with T1DM from diagnosis through childhood	N = 14 Child age: 11.1 y (3.5) T1DM duration: 8.0 y (3.7) Diversity US	Diagnosis: Fear and doubt. Feeling totally overwhelmed. Experience over time: No parents felt they had achieved mastery (ongoing challenges, always changing). Tension between promoting normal development of child and keeping child safe. Stress: Complicated regimen. School experience. Child’s future. Sources of support: Availability of diabetes team. Sharing responsibility with spouse. Support groups for some.
Sullivan- Bolyai 20032	Qualitative description	To describe the day-to-day experiences of mothers of young children with T1DM	N = 28 Child age: 2.9 y (0.6) T1DM duration: 1.3 y (0.7) Diversity: 11% US	Diagnosis: Hard to learn T1DM care. Experience over time: Rigid rules at first. More relaxed and confident over time. Modified T1DM care with change in developmental needs. Stress: Constant vigilance. Daily tasks. Fear of hypoglycemia. Nighttime and nap time. Day care issues. Concern about complications. Sources of support: Professional. Spouse. Family, friends. Support group for some. Patience. Inner strength.
Sullivan- Bolyai 200633	Qualitative description	To describe fathers’ experience of young child with T1DM	N = 14 Child age: 5.0 y (2.0) T1DM duration: 1.4 y (0.8) Diversity = 0% US	Diagnosis: Shock. Traumatic experience. Quick move to action. Overwhelmed with care and what was needed to learn. Experience over time: Gaining confidence. Providing respite for spouse. Treating child “normally.” Enduring sadness. Stress: Injections and causing pain. Fear of giving too much insulin. Nighttime. Worry about complications and child in school. Sources of support: Professionals. Sharing responsibility with spouse.
Wennick et al 200638	Qualitative longitudinal (hermeneutics)	To understand family lived experience when child diagnosed with T1DM	N = 12 (2-parent families) Child age: 9.5 y Newly diagnosed Sweden	Diagnosis: Sorrow and despair. Tearful. Powerlessness. Trying to make sense of diagnosis, reviewing symptoms. Experience over time: Reconstructing everyday life. Family life had to be carefully planned. Focus on blood sugar. Stress: Worry about complications and death. Complex T1DM care. Maintaining blood glucose. Nighttime. Child going to school or friends.

Abbreviation: T1DM, type 1 diabetes mellitus.