BSPED2018 Poster Presentations Diabetes (40 abstracts)
1Birmingham Childrens Hospital, Birmingham, UK; 2University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Objectives: Children and young people (CYP) with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) are at risk of acute clinical emergencies. Wearing medical identification (ID) is recommended by the National Institute for Clinical excellence (NICE). Information on adherence to this recommendation in CYP with T1DM is scarce. This study aimed to assess parent and CYPs knowledge of the recommendation, to explore adherence and barriers to carrying ID and understand preferred forms of ID.
Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional questionnaire survey of CYP aged 1019 years with T1DM of more than 6 weeks, and carers, conducted at diabetes clinics in a large diabetes centre between 6- 31/3/2018.
Results: Questionnaires were completed by 47/47 CYP (mean age 14.1 years), and 38/39 carers, accounting for 19% of registered 1019 year olds. Medical ID was owned by 29/47 CYP(61.7%) and 81%(13/16) of 1618 year olds with no significant gender differences. 25/33 (75%) of young persons recalled having advice on ID, in contrast to 17/38 (45%) of carers. Diabetes ID cards (44%), given free to CYP on diagnosis by the clinic, and ID wristbands (34.5%) were the most frequent forms of ID owned. Although 8/29 (27%) CYP reported carrying ID daily, only 7/29 (24%) wore it on the day they attended. 20/44 (45%) CYP and 13/30 (43%) carers identified forgetting ID was the greatest barrier to carrying ID. 20/30 (60%) carers thought appearance was a barrier in contrast to 8/44 (18%) of YP. For 10/32 (31%) YP, in contrast to 6/45 (13%) carers, feeling safe was a factor in wearing ID.
Conclusion: Up to 40% of CYP do not possess medical ID and up to 85% of CYP are potentially at risk if experiencing a diabetes emergency away from their main carers. Professionals have a role in awareness of ID amongst CYP and carers by checking this at every clinic. Making ID cards available at every clinic, in addition to providing at diagnosis, may prove beneficial.