Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The diabetes education program for schools and nurseries at an inner city hospital was introduced in 2010. The team offers 3 h sessions ~5–6×/year with the diabetes CNS and specialist diabetes dietician.

Aims: To assess the uptake of the sessions; to look at how sessions were offered and delivered; to analyse the evaluation forms filled out by the participants with particular focus on good points and suggestions for improvement; and to improve the existing feedback forms.

Methods: The study period was between April 2010 and October 2013. The number of people booked to attend each session was analysed and compared with the attendance sheets signed on the day. The feedback forms completed were analysed.

Results: A total of 16 sessions took place in the study period with 29 schools/nurseries represented. Up to 24 people attended each session mostly comprising nursery/school staff. 137 feedback forms were received (217 attendees in total). All 137 (100%) found the course useful and 133/137 (97%) felt more confident working with children with diabetes. Participants commonly listed the following positive aspects: glucose testing and insulin injections, 103/137 (75%); carbohydrate counting session, 83/137 (60.5%); and explanation of diabetes and pathogenesis, 46/137 (33.5%). Suggestions for improvement included: providing a printout of slides; teaching how to recognise undiagnosed cases; practicing carbohydrate counting on individual school menus; longer and increased number of sessions; and dealing with behavioural aspects and parents.

Conclusion: Group sessions are an effective and innovative way to deliver paediatric diabetes education for schools. We suggest this should be adopted nationally and become part of the paediatric diabetes best practice tariff.