Endocrine Abstracts

Aims and hypothesis: The aim of this study is to determine the baseline knowledge of diabetes and its management within two Psychiatric Crisis Resolution Teams based at NELFT NHS Foundation Trust. We hypothesise that attendance to diabetes seminars will lead to better knowledge of the condition’s management.

Background: A 2014 NHS survey found that 6% of people with mental health conditions also suffered from diabetes. Furthermore, antipsychotic and antidepressant medications have varying impacts on blood glucose levels, increasing the risk of poor outcomes in this cohort of patients. In order to provide optimum care, healthcare professionals within an emergency psychiatry team need to be aware of the basic management of diabetes.

Methods: An online survey was created using the SurveyMonkey software. It consisted of 8 multiple choice questions regarding diabetes and its management with each question testing a particular construct. Participants were asked to state their job role and level of proficiency managing diabetes patients on a scale of 1 to 10 (1=no ability and 10=full proficiency). Results will be analysed according to job role, before and after attendance to a diabetes seminar.

Results: We have currently analysed the responses of one of the two teams before the seminar. Their response rate was 63%. Correct answers per participant ranged from 3-7 out of 8 questions. Doctors (median=7) performed better than nurses (median=5), occupational therapist (median=4), and those who did not state their job role (median=4). 83% knew the common diagnostic symptoms, 94% correctly answered the construct measuring retinopathy screening knowledge, while 76% knew how to manage hypoglycaemia. In contrast, identification and initial management of impaired fasting glucose were poorly answered (24% and 12% respectively).

Conclusions: Overall, the baseline diabetes knowledge based on results collected so far is satisfactory; however there seems to be a weakness in managing high fasting glucose states. We expect participants to score significantly higher following attendance to diabetes seminars.