Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Structured education is offered by healthcare professionals for patients with type 1 diabetes and their families. The aims of education are to ensure competency in self-management and improve self-efficacy and glycaemic control. Therefore, this results in a reduced risk of adverse events related to diabetes and upholds quality of life.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of education programmes offered by healthcare professionals in Southampton Children’s Hospital, comparing between insulin pump and multiple daily injection (MDI) groups, by assessing the competency of children and parents at managing problem-based scenarios related to type 1 diabetes.

Methods: Problem-based questionnaires were distributed to children and parents in two separate groups depending on the child’s method of insulin administration; MDI (n=12) and insulin pump (n=18). Participants were aged 11 to 18, having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for at least two years, or a parent of a child with diabetes. Questionnaires were marked using a flexible framework and scores were recorded as percentages.

Results: The average score of the cohort (n=30) was 51.34%. The adult group (n=15) averaged 52.43% (S.D.=11.89), whereas the child group (n=15) total mean was 50.25% (S.D.=12.12). Using an unpaired T test, the results between the two groups were non-significant (P=0.623). When comparing scores of participants by method of insulin administration, the mean of pump (n=18) and MDI (n=12) groups were 53.49% (S.D.=13.70) and 48.11% (S.D.=7.81) respectively. An unpaired T test was performed again, confirming no significant relationship between scores and method of insulin therapy (P=0.229).

Conclusions: No association was identified between questionnaire scores and method of insulin therapy. Also, there was no relationship between scores and whether the participant was a child or parent. However, the average score in each group was lower than expected and therefore, problem-based diabetes education needs to be improved to ensure optimal competency of patients and families, resulting in a better quality of life.