Promoting Self-Management in Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions: Understanding Parent Support Needs

Abstract

For adolescents with chronic health conditions, developing self-management abilities is an ongoing process that may affect their future health outcomes. Parents are inextricably involved in this process and have the opportunity to act as key players in promoting self-management as youth progress towards becoming young adults. The aim of this study was to understand the support needs of parents working to promote self-management in their adolescent children with chronic health conditions, and to elaborate on a previously published Ecological Framework for transitioning to adult healthcare. Five major themes were identified: (1) Ease of navigating health systems, (2) Education on adolescent development, (3) Coaching for parents and adolescents on communication strategies and self-management skills, (4) Connecting parents and adolescents with peer support, and (5) Clinical strategies to increase the child’s involvement in medical care. Using these findings, we provide specific recommendations for future research and program development at both clinical and health system levels to support parents in promoting self-management in their adolescent children.