Endocrine Abstracts

Objectives: Many successful European centres provide intensive education as 2 week inpatient admissions for newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Prolonged inpatient stay is resource intensive and disrupts the family unit. Our centre aimed to determine the feasibility of delivering an intensive education programme in an ambulatory care setting.

Methods: The curriculum, introduced in October 2013, comprised 20 hours face to face education by paediatric diabetes nurses, doctors, dietitians, psychologist and social/family support worker (SW/FSW) over 6 weeks. Sessions were scheduled around lunch. Home or diabetes unit visits were provided, as required, for injection support. Families with children diagnosed between October 2014 and November 2015 were provided with an anonymous questionnaire to evaluate programme satisfaction and highlight challenges.

Results: There were 54 newly diagnosed in the study period, all of whom participated in the programme. Overall programme attendance rates were high (91%). Questionnaires were completed by 14 (26%) families. 11(79%) were completed by a parent (1 with interpreter). 92–100% of families agreed or strongly agreed sessions delivered by PDSN, Drs or Dietitians were helpful. Sessions rated ambivalent by 17–38% were SW/FSW or psychology delivered sessions, complications and hyperglycaemia. Families report they could attend and reschedule appointments as required. One family reported appointment times caused difficulty in collecting siblings from school. One family raised parking issues. One found the course provided more information than they could manage, others found the pace appropriate.

Conclusion: An intensive education programme can be successfully delivered on an ambulatory basis, despite barriers of inner city location, limited parking and a population comprising high prevalence of low socioeconomic status and ethnic minorities. Strategies to address issues highlighted by families are in place to improve accessibility to all.