For young people with chronic conditions, decisions about medicines and condition management will often be made in conjunction with their parents/guardians. For example, research concerning young people with thalassaemia major demonstrated the importance of family in medicine taking and illness management¹. In the UK, the National Asthma Campaign has estimated that one in seven children have asthma, and for every 1000 schoolchildren it has been suggested that between one and two will have insulin dependent diabetes mellitus². This research aims to explore the partnerships between young people and their parents in the medicines and condition management of asthma and diabetes.

Random sampling was used in two health authority areas to select general practices to be invited to take part in the study. Surgeries were also randomly allocated to recruit young people with either asthma or diabetes. Surgeries were initially contacted by letter, followed by telephone calls. The research is currently in progress and aims to include fifteen pairs of interviews for each condition, in each health authority (60 pairs in total). Participating surgeries searched their computer records for young people aged 8-12 years with asthma and aged 8-15 years with diabetes. Eligible young people and their parents were sent a letter inviting them to participate in the study.

Home interviews were conducted with the young people and their parents. Semi-structured interview schedules were used for interviews with parents and a more unstructured interview schedule was developed for use in interviews with young people. Topics covered in the interviews include details of the medication used, management of conditions at home and in school, consultations with healthcare professionals and exploration of partnerships, responsibilities and management of the condition. Condition-specific quality of life measures were also administered to young people and their parents. Interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. Thirty pairs of interviews have been completed to date.

Analysis is being conducted to identify issues regarding partnerships in condition and medicines management between young people and their parents, in relation to models of chronic illness. Issues concerning the management of the conditions and medicines at home and in school, and experiences of health care services will be investigated. The impact of these chronic conditions on the quality of life of young people will also be examined. The results of the project will inform the advice and support provided by health care professionals to young people with asthma and diabetes, and their parents.

References

1. Atkin K and Ahmad W.I.U. Pumping iron: compliance with chelation therapy among young people who have thalassaemia major. Sociology of Health and Illness 2000; 22: 500-524.
2. Metcalfe MA, Baum JD, Incidence of insulin dependent diabetes in children aged under 15 years in the British Isles during 1988. BMJ 1988; 302: 443-447.

With thanks to the School of Pharmacy, London and the Royal College of General Practitioners for funding this research.