Groupthink: Supporting Adolescents with Diabetes through a SBHC Support Group

It’s a pleasure to be back at the National conference with peers who are dedicated to SBHC’s and committed to being on the “front line” as advocates and caregivers of young people in our country.  I’m honored to be among you, whether you here in DC or virtually.  The presentation I’m giving this year is a summary of the work I’ve been doing at Duke while completing my Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.  For those who are not familiar with the DNP’s focus, we complete a “Capstone” project (rather than a thesis) that evaluates the effectiveness of an innovation in nursing practice or one that is being proposed for practice in a healthcare setting.  I choose to look at the effects of a SBHC support group that works with adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes, a project we had started at my clinical setting three years ago, but had no idea of its effectiveness.  Through the Capstone, I was not only able to get a clear view of the significant risk factors and self-care behaviors the teens were choosing, but also the incredible difference  we could make by providing a support group within the SBHC, or as some put it, a “safety net in the fabric of the school day” for the adolescents.  

This affordable and sensible group approach yielded significant positive effects among the teen participants which included positive weight changes, stabilization of metabolic status, reduction of risk factors and negative diabetes care behaviors.  Perhaps most importantly, the project demonstrated significant improvements in the adolescent’s self-confidence in managing their disease and a reduction in their stress and depression ratings.  In essence, support groups work! With well-planned SBHC outreach efforts that support teens with Diabetes, we can make significant POSITIVE impact on the lives of adolescents and perhaps their future!  

The implications for SBHC support groups are vast—not only in the US, but worldwide, not only for Diabetes, but for all chronic illness. I welcome comments and questions, so please feel free to contact me.

Anne Derouin DNP, CPNP
Clinical Associate, Duke School of Nursing
Southern High School Wellness Center
Duke Community and Family Medicine