Dr. Katharine Barnard PhD, CPsychol AFBPsS, Health Psychologist and Senior Research Fellow at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton is conducting research into minimising the risk of alcohol for young adults with type 1 diabetes. The project is using an online survey to reach people aged 18-30 years, with type 1 diabetes, and is looking for willing participants. The study is funded with a small grant from Diabetes UK. The survey consists of a ’10 drink quiz’ related to alcohol content and the self-management strategies that young people with type 1 diabetes use to stay safe when drinking. If you fit the participation criteria and would like to take part, these are details of the project:
Title of research: Do young adults with Type 1 diabetes know the alcohol content of common drinks? What self-management strategies are used to stay safe when drinking?
Institution: University of Southampton
Name of lead investigator: Dr Katharine Barnard
Who to contact: Dr Katharine Barnard, k.barnard@soton.ac.uk
Recruiting until: April 2013
Total number of participants needed: 1,000
Who can take part?: People aged between 18 and 30 years of age who have Type 1 diabetes
What is the research about? The drinking culture in the UK particularly affects young adults. Knowledge of the alcoholic content of drinks among the general public is poor and alcohol misuse accounts for 20,000 premature deaths every year. Young adults with Type 1 diabetes are particularly at risk because they can struggle to balance self-management of their condition with everyday social activities (including the consumption of alcohol) or underestimate the impact of alcohol on glucose control. Dr Katherine Barnard and her team at the University of Southampton are conducting a survey to assess alcohol consumption, knowledge of the effects of alcohol and strategies for managing diabetes among people aged 18-30 with Type 1 diabetes.
How will it benefit people with diabetes? This study will provide essential information on drinking patterns, diabetes management and knowledge accuracy among young adults with Type 1. It will form the basis of future research to explore understanding and experiences and will ultimately inform clinical guidelines to minimise the risks associated with alcohol use and promote better self-management of diabetes.
What will taking part involve for participants? Participants are invited to complete the web survey provided at the link below, which will take approximately 10-15 minutes. The survey will ask questions related to alcohol health literacy, diabetes and the strategies that participants use to stay safe while drinking alcohol.
Are there any risks involved in taking part? Taking part in this study is entirely voluntary and participants can withdraw at any time. The answers given will be kept completely confidential by the researchers. The questions asked in the survey might make participants feel concerned or worried about their answers. Accordingly, participants will be made aware of appropriate sources of guidance and support at the end of the survey.
Please click on the following link to complete the survey: www.isurvey.soton.ac.uk/5882
