Menstrual Dysfunction in Adolescents with Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Menstrual dysfunction can impact both the physical and emotional health of young people.1 Multiple chronic diseases have been associated with menstrual dysfunction in adults2; however, there is little research in adolescents, despite nonadherence and suboptimal illness control in this group. We aimed to identify the impact of chronic illness on the age of menarche and the menstrual cycle in adolescents. METHODS: Studies were extracted of female adolescents aged 10-19 who had a chronic physical illness. Data included outcomes on age of menarche and/or menstrual cycle quality. Exclusion criteria aimed to exclude diseases where menstrual dysfunction was a known part of the disease pathophysiology (ie, polycystic ovarian syndrome)3 or in which medications were used that directly impacted gonadal function.4 A literature search (to January 2022) was performed on the EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane library databases. Two widely used modified quality analysis tools were used. RESULTS: Our initial search netted 1451 articles, of which 95 full texts were examined and 43 met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-seven papers focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D), with 8 papers examining adolescents with cystic fibrosis and the remaining studying inflammatory bowel disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, coeliac disease, and chronic renal disease. Metanalysis of 933 patients with T1D vs 5244 controls demonstrated a significantly later age of menarche in T1D (by 0.42 years; P ≤ .00001). There was also a significant association between higher HbA1c and insulin dose (IU/kg) and later age of menarche. Eighteen papers reviewed other aspects of menstruation, including dysmenorrhea, oligomenorrhoea, amenorrhea, and ovulatory function, with variable findings. CONCLUSION: Most studies were small and in single populations. Despite this, there was evidence of delayed menarche and some evidence of irregular menses in those with cystic fibrosis and T1D. Further structured studies are needed to evaluate menstrual dysfunction in adolescents and how it relates to their chronic illness.

A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a self-management program for adolescents with a chronic condition: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Self-management support is increasingly viewed as an integral part of chronic condition management in adolescence. It is well recognized that markers of chronic illness control deteriorate during adolescence. Due to the increasing prevalence of long-term chronic health conditions in childhood and improved survival rates of previously life-limiting conditions in children and adolescents, significant numbers of adolescents are having to manage their chronic condition effectively as they transition to adult health care. Therapy adherence has been identified as a major challenge for young people living with a chronic condition such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes, or asthma requiring long-term pharmacological therapy and/or lifestyle modifications. Most systematic reviews on self-management interventions address adult populations. Very few intervention studies are directed at adolescents with a chronic condition who are transitioning to adult health services. This protocol describes a prospective randomized controlled trial of a standardized self-management intervention program delivered to adolescents aged 15-18 years prior to their transfer to adult care. This study has been designed to provide evidence regarding self-management programs for adolescents and is the first study to use the Flinders Program with this important, under-researched age group. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial is used to investigate the effectiveness of a modified adolescent-friendly version of an adult self-management program. This program is directed at improving self-management in an adolescent cohort 15-18 years of age with a chronic condition being treated in a specialist pediatric hospital. Participants will be randomized to either usual care or the modified Flinders Program plus usual care. Data collection will include measures of specific illness control, unscheduled hospital admissions, and questionnaires to record self-management competencies, quality of life, self-efficacy, and outcome measures specific to the chronic condition at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after delivery. DISCUSSION: This study will provide a better understanding of the elements required for effective self-management programs in adolescents with a chronic condition and address some important knowledge gaps in current literature. The study will be carried out in collaboration with the Discipline of Behavioural Health at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, in order to inform the development of an adolescent version of the successful and validated Flinders Program™. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000390886). Registered on April 8, 2021.

Implementation science in adolescent healthcare research: an integrative review.

BACKGROUND: Multiple theories, models and frameworks have been developed to assist implementation of evidence-based practice. However, to date there has been no review of implementation literature specific to adolescent healthcare. This integrative review therefore aimed to determine what implementation science theories, models and frameworks have been applied, what elements of these frameworks have been identified as influential in promoting the implementation and sustainability of service intervention, and to what extent, in what capacity and at what time points has the contribution of adolescent consumer perspectives on evidence implementation been considered.  METHODS: An integrative design was used and reported based on a modified form of the PRISMA (2020) checklist. Seven databases were searched for English language primary research which included any implementation science theory, model or framework developed for/with adolescents or applied in relation to adolescent healthcare services within the past 10 years. Content and thematic analysis were applied with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) used to frame analysis of the barriers and facilitators to effective implementation of evidence-informed interventions within youth health settings. RESULTS: From 8717 citations, 13 papers reporting 12 studies were retained. Nine different implementation science theories, frameworks or approaches were applied; six of 12 studies used the CFIR, solely or with other models. All CFIR domains were represented as facilitators and barriers for implementation in included studies. However, there was little or no inclusion of adolescents in the development or review of these initiatives. Only three mentioned youth input, occurring in the pre-implementation or implementation stages. CONCLUSIONS: The few studies found for this review highlight the internationally under-developed nature of this topic. Flagging the importance of the unique characteristics of this particular age group, and of the interventions and strategies to target it, the minimal input of adolescent consumers is cause for concern. Further research is clearly needed and must ensure that youth consumers are engaged from the start and consistently throughout; that their voice is prioritised and not tokenistic; that their contribution is taken seriously. Only then will age-appropriate evidence implementation enable innovations in youth health services to achieve the evidence-based outcomes they offer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020201142 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=201142.

Does introduction of continuous glucose monitoring at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes increase uptake in children and adolescents?

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether introduction of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D), leads to greater uptake and continuation at 12 and 24 months, in a population-based pediatric diabetes clinic. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: All T1D children and adolescents diagnosed in the 12 months following full government subsidization of CGM were offered CGM from diagnosis at Women's and Children's Hospital, SA (Cohort 1). Uptake and continuation of CGM was compared to those diagnosed in the preceding year, who were started on CGM after diagnosis, but otherwise had identical diabetes management (Cohort 2). Demographic and clinical data were collected prospectively. The primary outcome variable was CGM wear >75% of the time at 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: In Cohort 1, 84% were started on CGM at diagnosis. 88% had commenced CGM by 12 months and 90% by 24 months. In Cohort 2, CGM was started on average 10 months after diagnosis (range 1-25 months), with 81% started on CGM within 24 months of subsidization. At 24 months, 78% of Cohort 1 and 66% of Cohort 2 were wearing CGM >75% of the time (p = 0.26), higher than the WCH Clinic as a whole (58%). There was no difference in HbA1c between cohorts. CONCLUSION: Starting CGM at diagnosis of T1D is feasible and well received by families, with high uptake across all ages. Although CGM continuation (wearing CGM >75% of the time) was slightly higher in Cohort 1 than Cohort 2, this did not reach statistical significance.