Genesis Flores
Pronouns:
Research Mentor(s): Carol Lee
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Department of Psychiatry / Medicine
Program: UROP
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Authors: Bella Flores, Caitlan DeVries, Briana Mezuk
Abstract
Background and Objective: It is well-documented that people with diabetes experience heightened psychosocial distress due to a variety of factors, including stigma and financial strain. These disparities remain largely unrecognized in clinical settings and can lead to worsened depressive symptomology and poor diabetes self-management. Our objective is to understand the mental health and social needs of people with diabetes seen at Michigan Medicine and identify modifiable healthcare system gaps in addressing these needs. Methods: This planned study (expected launch: March 2023) employs an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. First, a quantitative web Qualtrics survey will be conducted with 2500 adults with diabetes (~33% with type 1, ~66% with type 2, and ~100 people with gestational diabetes) being treated at Michigan Medicine. This survey will ask people about their experience living with diabetes, including: healthcare access, stigma, mental health needs, management habits, social determinants of health, and diabetes outcomes. Second, a series of qualitative interviews will be conducted and thematically analyzed to further assess and contextualize needs and individual perspectives. This data will be analyzed with SAS software. Results and Future Directions: We hypothesize that there will be significant delays from initial referrals to care and also that mental health, healthcare access, stigma, and other social determinants of health will have an effect on diabetes outcomes. Such results may guide how healthcare providers should best implement mental health resources for those with diabetes in hopes of closing these disparities.
