P42 Validation of the family APGAR questionnaire in type 1 diabetes in Argentina

Abstract

Introduction: The family function is the capacity a family has to satisfy the need of its members and to adapt to the situations of change, such as the diagnosis of type 1 Diabetes in one of the members. The Family APGAR is a fast and simple technique to explore family function, developed by Smilkstein in 1978. It is a tool used to approach the perception on family support from the point of view of the people with the disease. Measuring the family function with the impact of T1D will enable to carry forward the strategies to approach the problematic that help with treatment adherence and in having a better life quality.

Objectives: Validating the Family APGAR questionnaire in people from 16 to 65 years old with type 1 diabetes in Argentina.

Materials and Methods: A transversal, descriptive study, applying the Family APGAR questionnaire in people with type 1 diabetes between 16 and 65 years old, done through email or WhatsApp with a GoogleDocs form, sent by diabetologists from different parts of Argentina and which is made up of 5 questions in a Likert-like scale from 0 to 4. An informed consent was signed in the same form. The interpretation of the instrument is that with higher score, better perception of family functioning. Information was collected about diabetes diagnosis history, age and latest HbA1c levels. The analysis was made with Spearman's correlation coefficient, Cronbach's coefficient alpha and the degree of coherence between the measurements with the intraclass correlation coefficient.

Results: From 89 forms received, 14 were excluded for being incomplete. A total of 75 patients with type 1 diabetes cared for by diabetologists were included. A 68% were women 35 ± 13 years, with a diabetes duration of 17 ± 10, A1c 8 ±1.5%; presenting a Cronbach's coefficient alpha of 0.93, with a intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.71.

Conclusions: The correlation between the answers form the questionnaire are positive and statistically meaningful (p<0.0001), the validation of the Family APGAR for people with type 1 diabetes has an excellent coefficient alpha of 0.93, with a good intrinsic validity (intraclass coefficient [0.71]). Therefore, it is a good instrument to measure the perception on family support and asses if it has an impact on treatment adherence.