Co-design of school-based strategies and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth living with type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study

Objective: Youth-onset type 2 diabetes is an emerging condition impacting Indigenous populations worldwide. Schools have an important role in supporting students to manage their health. Methods: We undertook a qualitative study to (i) explore the lived experience of type 2 diabetes, diabetes managem...

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Main Authors: Stefanie Puszka, Angela Titmuss, Emma Weaver, Natasha Freeman, Marylin Carino, Jade Morris, Peggy Tom, Shiree Mack, Sumaria Corpus, Deanne Minniecon, Peter Azzopardi, James Dowler, Louise Maple-Brown, Renae Kirkham
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020025000469
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author Stefanie Puszka
Angela Titmuss
Emma Weaver
Natasha Freeman
Marylin Carino
Jade Morris
Peggy Tom
Shiree Mack
Sumaria Corpus
Deanne Minniecon
Peter Azzopardi
James Dowler
Louise Maple-Brown
Renae Kirkham
author_facet Stefanie Puszka
Angela Titmuss
Emma Weaver
Natasha Freeman
Marylin Carino
Jade Morris
Peggy Tom
Shiree Mack
Sumaria Corpus
Deanne Minniecon
Peter Azzopardi
James Dowler
Louise Maple-Brown
Renae Kirkham
author_sort Stefanie Puszka
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Youth-onset type 2 diabetes is an emerging condition impacting Indigenous populations worldwide. Schools have an important role in supporting students to manage their health. Methods: We undertook a qualitative study to (i) explore the lived experience of type 2 diabetes, diabetes management and support in school environments and (ii) co-design recommendations for age-appropriate, culturally safe school-based strategies and supports. Interviews and focus groups were undertaken with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, caregivers, health professionals and school-based staff. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth were involved in determining the research topic. Results: We found a need for school-based measures to address diabetes stigma, medication management, privacy and confidentiality, healthy eating and social and emotional wellbeing and identified further needs for staff training. Conclusions: In many cases, schools are providing extensive support to students, but without adequate resources, supportive systems and policies or staff training, current approaches are insufficient. Implications for public health: Recommendations include whole-of-school responses to address diabetes stigma and to generate sensitive approaches to nutrition, school-based management plans for students with T2D and adoption of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-driven approaches.
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-2a91edc4d2ef4579bd42fb1972c58eb22025-08-20T05:04:49ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02002025-08-0149410026510.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100265Co-design of school-based strategies and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth living with type 2 diabetes: A qualitative studyStefanie Puszka0Angela Titmuss1Emma Weaver2Natasha Freeman3Marylin Carino4Jade Morris5Peggy Tom6Shiree Mack7Sumaria Corpus8Deanne Minniecon9Peter Azzopardi10James Dowler11Louise Maple-Brown12Renae Kirkham13Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, Australia; School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Science and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Correspondence to: Stefanie Puszka, The Australian National University Canberra ACT 2600 AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, Division of Women, Children and Youth, Royal Darwin Hospital, Casuarina, NT, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, AustraliaDepartment of Endocrinology, Division of Medicine, Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals, NT, AustraliaDiabetes Australia, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaAdolescent Health and Wellbeing Program, Telethon Kids Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Paediatrics, Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, NT, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, Australia; Department of Endocrinology, Division of Medicine, Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals, NT, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, AustraliaObjective: Youth-onset type 2 diabetes is an emerging condition impacting Indigenous populations worldwide. Schools have an important role in supporting students to manage their health. Methods: We undertook a qualitative study to (i) explore the lived experience of type 2 diabetes, diabetes management and support in school environments and (ii) co-design recommendations for age-appropriate, culturally safe school-based strategies and supports. Interviews and focus groups were undertaken with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, caregivers, health professionals and school-based staff. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth were involved in determining the research topic. Results: We found a need for school-based measures to address diabetes stigma, medication management, privacy and confidentiality, healthy eating and social and emotional wellbeing and identified further needs for staff training. Conclusions: In many cases, schools are providing extensive support to students, but without adequate resources, supportive systems and policies or staff training, current approaches are insufficient. Implications for public health: Recommendations include whole-of-school responses to address diabetes stigma and to generate sensitive approaches to nutrition, school-based management plans for students with T2D and adoption of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-driven approaches.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020025000469youthschoolstype 2 diabetesstigmaAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoplesco-design
spellingShingle Stefanie Puszka
Angela Titmuss
Emma Weaver
Natasha Freeman
Marylin Carino
Jade Morris
Peggy Tom
Shiree Mack
Sumaria Corpus
Deanne Minniecon
Peter Azzopardi
James Dowler
Louise Maple-Brown
Renae Kirkham
Co-design of school-based strategies and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth living with type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
youth
schools
type 2 diabetes
stigma
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
co-design
title Co-design of school-based strategies and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth living with type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study
title_full Co-design of school-based strategies and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth living with type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study
title_fullStr Co-design of school-based strategies and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth living with type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Co-design of school-based strategies and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth living with type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study
title_short Co-design of school-based strategies and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth living with type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study
title_sort co design of school based strategies and supports for aboriginal and torres strait islander youth living with type 2 diabetes a qualitative study
topic youth
schools
type 2 diabetes
stigma
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
co-design
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020025000469
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