Experiences and needs of children with siblings diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes: A mixed studies review

Abstract

Background Over the years, Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has been globally prevalent and consistently increasing amongst the paediatric population. There is scarce literature examining the family members' especially siblings’ experiences regarding T1DM. Therefore this review aimed to understand the siblings of diabetic children's experiences and needs as they could be directly or indirectly involved in caring for them. Aim To conduct an in-depth synthesis of well children's experiences and needs who have siblings aged 18 and below and diagnosed with T1DM. Design A systematic mixed studies review Method Six electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EmBASE, Scopus and ProQuest) were searched for English language studies from each databases' date of inception till October 2020. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were independently appraised for quality by two reviewers using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). A narrative synthesis approach was employed to consolidate and synthesize results from primary qualitative and quantitative studies. Results Five themes generated from the synthesis: (1) initial responses and the experiences with the diagnosis of T1DM, (2) emotional responses to the diabetic siblings' condition, (3) adaptations made by the well siblings, (4) changes in family dynamics and (5) insights, takeaways and way forward for the well siblings. Findings showed how the well siblings were initially affected by the diagnosis, to developing varying emotional responses. Adaptations were adopted while experiencing changing family dynamics. Lastly, recommendations were provided to improve the current provision of care. Implications Findings have shown how well siblings wish for better involvement and emotional support from healthcare providers. This will aid clinicians in improving family-centred care and support services for them. Future research may include narratives from T1DM-stricken children towards well siblings to better understand the rationale behind the latter's experiences.