(D30) The Positive Pancreas: How Illness Perception Impacts Care Behaviors in Youth with T1D

Sunday, August 9, 2026

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM ET

CE: .75 CE

Illness perception, how a person makes sense of or understands their illness, has been shown to influence care behaviors. An illness perception is developed through personal, emotional, and social experiences, which shape knowledge and the overall interpretation of the disease. Over the course of one school year, students with T1D between the ages of 6 and 18 years old were given a questionnaire that was used to assess illness perception. This presentation will cover the meaning and importance of illness perception, individualized factors influencing illness interpretation, questionnaire results, and potential interventions to aid in the development of a positive illness perception.

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

Recognize factors that influence the development of individual illness perception.
Describe the impact of illness perception on diabetes management and health outcomes.
Identify potential interventions for aiding in the development of a positive illness perception.

Disclosure(s):

Noelle Dawson, MSN, RN: No financial relationships to disclose

Kathryn Simms, BSN, RN, CDCES: No financial relationships to disclose

Maggie Miller, MS, APRN-CNP: No financial relationships to disclose

Primary Presenter(s)

Noelle Dawson, MSN, RN

Diabetes Nurse Educator
Nationwide Childrens Hospital

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Co-Presenter(s)

Kathryn Simms, BSN, RN, CDCES

Diabetes Nurse Educator
Nationwide Childrens Hospital

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
MM

Maggie Miller, MS, APRN-CNP

Nurse Practitioner
Nationwide Childrens Hospital

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose