Psychometric validation of the hyperglycaemia avoidance scale UK (HAS-UK).

Aims: Hyperglycaemia aversion in type 1 diabetes can be associated with severe hypoglycaemia and impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia but is not routinely assessed clinically. This study aimed to undertake the first psychometric validation of the UK version of the Hyperglycaemia Avoidance Scale (HAS-UK).

Methods: The HAS-UK was completed by adults with type 1 diabetes in three separate research studies.

Hyperglycaemia aversion in type 1 diabetes: A grounded theory study.

Objective: Very little is known about the circumstances under which hyperglycaemia aversion develops and is maintained. The present study aimed to identify psychological factors involved in the process of hyperglycaemia aversion and to understand how it affects people's self-management of type 1 diabetes.

Design: Qualitative, in-depth interviews were used.

Diabetes self-management during the COVID-19 pandemic and its associations with COVID-19 anxiety syndrome, depression and health anxiety.

Introduction: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health have been profound. Mental health and diabetes self-care are inter-related. We examined whether COVID-19 anxiety, depressive symptoms and health anxiety were associated with domains of diabetes self-management and investigated whether greater COVID-19 anxiety syndrome would independently contribute to suboptimal diabetes self-care.

Delivering an efficient and effective support group for patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs): patient perspectives of key concerns and predictors of inclination to attend.

Background: A subset of patients experience psychological distress following insertion of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and ICD support groups are recommended, however access to these groups is limited. This study aimed: to gauge a better understanding of patients' key ICD-related concerns; to determine patient interest in a support group and topics deemed helpful to address in a support group; and to examine factors which affect patient inclination to attend.

Methods: One hundred and thirty nine patients completed the ICD Patient Concerns Questionnaire - Brief (ICDC-B) and a semi-structured survey.

Effectiveness of computer-mediated interventions for informal carers of people with dementia-a systematic review.

Background: Caring for a friend or relative with dementia can be burdensome and stressful, and puts carers at increased risk of physical and psychological problems. A number of psychosocial interventions, some delivered by computer, have been developed to support carers. This review evaluates the outcomes of computer-mediated interventions.

The effectiveness of an Internet support forum for carers of people with dementia: a pre-post cohort study.

Background: The well-being of informal carers of people with dementia is an important public health issue. Caring for an elderly relative with dementia may be burdensome and stressful, and can negatively affect the carer's social, family, and professional life. The combination of loss, the physical demands of caregiving, prolonged distress, and biological vulnerabilities of older carers may compromise their physical health, increase social isolation, and increase the risk of anxiety and depressive disorders.