Quarantine Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic From the Perspective of Pediatric Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: A Web-Based Survey

Stefano Passanisi; Maria Pecoraro; Francesco Pira; Angela Alibrandi; Vittoria Donia; Paola Lonia; Giovanni Battista Pajno; Giuseppina Salzano; Fortunato Lombardo

doi:10.3389/fped.2020.00491

Quarantine Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic From the Perspective of Pediatric Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: A Web-Based Survey

Front Pediatr. 2020 Jul 31:8:491. doi: 10.3389/fped.2020.00491. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Stefano Passanisi¹, Maria Pecoraro¹, Francesco Pira², Angela Alibrandi³, Vittoria Donia¹, Paola Lonia¹, Giovanni Battista Pajno¹, Giuseppina Salzano¹, Fortunato Lombardo¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age "Gaetano Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
² Department of Ancient and Modern Civilizations, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
³ Unit of Statistical and Mathematical Sciences, Department of Economics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Abstract

Background: A crucial aspect of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was the psychological impact on the population. Most countries issued restrictive laws to reduce community-based viral spread. Children and adolescents were forced to experience physical and social distancing. Subjects with chronic diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, were more vulnerable and at higher risk of developing psychological disorders. Methods: We conducted a web-based survey to investigate the behavioral responses during quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak in a cohort of pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. Data were collected on demographic and clinical characteristics, lifestyle changes, and the impact of COVID-19 on the management of diabetes. Results: Two hundred four pediatric patients (aged 5-18 years) with type 1 diabetes completed the questionnaire. Interestingly, patients ≤12 years were significantly more influenced by the quarantine period in their approach to the disease than older patients. Conclusion: Although quarantine was a stressful psychological condition, our results showed that most children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes developed high levels of resilience and excellent coping skills by using technology in a proper way.

Keywords: children; coronavirus; lockdown; management; outbreak; resilience; technology.