Using network analysis, which takes a holistic approach to health systems, we aimed to identify which psychosocial burden dimensions are the most central and, thus, critical to prioritising to improve the overall health of people with type 1 diabetes (PwT1D).
A cross-sectional network analysis.
We used data from participants attending 44 diabetes centres in France, who were enrolled in the SFDT1 cohort study between June 2020 and February 2024.
We included 1430 PwT1D (52% women, median age (IQR) 41 (31–52.8) years) who had completed questionnaires on diabetes burden.
The items from questionnaires on diabetes distress, fear of hypoglycaemia, quality of life, treatment burden and the impact of diabetes on education and work.
The network was highly stable (correlation stability coefficient=0.75). We observed nine domains within the network; ‘Loneliness, Worrying & Burnout’ was the most influential. We further grouped the domains into three distinct syndromes labelled ‘Diabetes Distress’, ‘Treatment Burden’ and ‘Impact of Diabetes on Life’. These syndromes reflect the most relevant pillars of the psychosocial burden in PwT1D.
We observed that ‘Loneliness, Worrying & Burnout’ is the most influential psychosocial burden network domain to prioritise for type 1 diabetes care. This new network-based approach opens the path to defining personalised interventions targeting the most critical burden parameters to expect the most significant overall beneficial impact on PwT1D’s health.
To understand the social representations of bedside milk expression (BME) among mothers of preterm newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
Qualitative descriptive study.
The study was conducted from July to August 2024 in two NICUs of a referral maternity hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil. Nineteen mothers of hospitalised premature newborns participated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and subjected to thematic content analysis.
Mothers perceived BME as a meaningful act of protection and bonding, though some were unfamiliar with the practice. Emotional ambivalence was common, shaped by prior breastfeeding experiences and the context of prematurity. Discomfort related to privacy and shared spaces was noted. Support from healthcare professionals was essential to promote understanding and adherence.
Social representations of BME are shaped by emotional, social and institutional experiences. Anchored in prior breastfeeding experiences and cultural meanings of maternal care, the practice is objectified through both gestures of affection and tangible barriers.
Healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, should receive training to support mothers in BME. Structural improvements, privacy and emotional support are essential for fostering maternal autonomy and confidence.
This study highlights the barriers to BME, emphasising the role of healthcare support and the need for better infrastructure, privacy and training to enhance maternal confidence and breastfeeding.
The study followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist.
None.
This paper highlights the pivotal role of healthcare professional support in overcoming barriers to BME and promoting breastfeeding practices.
Fresh breast milk is considered the gold standard for reducing complications and improving survival in preterm infants. BME is recommended as an effective strategy to ensure the availability of fresh breast milk. Mothers' social representations of this practice remain underexplored within the neonatal intensive care context.
Explores mothers' social representations of BME in NICUs, addressing a significant gap in qualitative research. Reveals how emotional, social and institutional factors shape mothers' perceptions, motivations and challenges related to BME. Highlights the need for targeted professional support, improved infrastructure and privacy to enhance maternal autonomy and adherence to milk expression practices.
Healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, should receive specialised training to provide technical guidance and emotional support, enhancing mothers' confidence and autonomy in BME. Improving infrastructure and ensuring privacy in NICUs are crucial to creating supportive environments that facilitate milk expression and strengthen maternal–infant bonding. Institutional policies should integrate maternal-centred strategies to support breastfeeding continuity and promote humanised neonatal care.