# Developing a patient-centered psychoeducational tool to realize the potential of diabetes technologies

> **NIH NIH K23** · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · 2024 · $56,795

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Despite increased use of insulin pumps (IP) and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) for pediatric type 1 diabetes
(T1D) management and research studies showing benefits from the use of these devices, real-world glycemic
control among youth with T1D has worsened in recent years. The lack of improvement in glycemic control despite
increased use of these technologies indicates that youth receiving routine clinical T1D care are not realizing the
full potential of IP and CGM. Although greater youth and parental diabetes knowledge is associated with better
glycemic control, education alone is not sufficient to bring about the behavioral changes needed to improve
outcomes in T1D. Psychoeducation recognizes the need to blend educational and behavioral approaches,
including problem-solving and goal-setting, to support parents in developing optimal T1D management
approaches. There are currently a lack of effective standardized tools to support patients and families in
developing the knowledge and behavioral strategies needed to optimize the use of diabetes technologies. The
development of innovative family-centered psychoeducational tools addressing both behavior and knowledge
will help to realize the full potential of diabetes technologies to improve glycemic control and quality of life while
ultimately preventing or delaying the development of both acute and long-term complications of T1D.
The scientific goal of this proposal is to identify the unmet psychoeducational needs of parents of children 8-12 years
of age using IP and CGM for pediatric T1D management and to leverage that information to develop an innovative
psychoeducational intervention to optimize use of these technologies and improve T1D outcomes. In Aim 1,
semantic content analysis of interviews involving children with T1D, their parents, and diabetes clinicians will be
used to identify unmet educational and behavioral needs of parents and children using these technologies. We
previously developed an app-delivered T1D technology education curriculum for clinicians and in Aim 2 will use
instructional design and stakeholder input to adapt the existing curriculum to meet the specific needs of parents of
school age children with T1D. Finally, in Aim 3, we will pilot this psychoeducational intervention. Parents will
complete 4 months of the app-delivered psychoeducational curriculum and dyads will also meet with a diabetes
educator trained in motivational interviewing to reinforce knowledge and problem solving skills learned in the
curriculum by applying them to personal IP and CGM data. With the support of my mentors and advisory
committee comprised of experts in T1D behavioral interventions, medical and family-facing education, and
qualitative research, I will attain the career development goals of learning advanced techniques in qualitative and
quantitative research, developing expertise in family-facing psychoeducational interventions, and cultivating the
leadership s...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11111769
- **Project number:** 3K23DK129827-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Brynn E Marks
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $56,795
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11111769

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11111769, Developing a patient-centered psychoeducational tool to realize the potential of diabetes technologies (3K23DK129827-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11111769. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*