Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: Diabetes (DM) is a huge global health emergency of the 21st century. Around 463 million adults haveDM. Every 2-nd adult with DM is undiagnosed. Over 374 million people have impaired glucose tolerance, their risk of developing DM is very high. According to Diabetes Atlas-2019 DM national prevalence for Georgia is 7.1%. Increasing prevalence of DM/other endocrine disorders, specific health needs ofthese populations, increasing load on healthcare require more active nurse involvement inprovision of DM/endocrine care. Though globally nurses role in DM prevention/care is important, there are no trained diabetes or endocrine nurses in Georgia, who receive properknowledge on DM/other endocrine problemswhile studying at the collage.

Methods: Under the initiative of the Association of Professional Development of Georgian Nurses and Nurse Assistants Post Diploma Training of nurses was initiated in 2015. A Memorandum of Understanding and Support was signed with Georgian Union of Diabetes and Endocrine Associations, and DM was included as one of the 10 Modules of the Training Program. Diabetes Module for nurses started in 2016; it is a 2-day, 10 hour training; screening, diagnosis, management and prevention of DM/ its complication are discussed. Contracts were signed with several in-hospital and out-hospital medical facilities. Besides, together with Georgian Association of Medical Education and Evidence-Based Medicine a Summer School on Diabetes/Endocrinology for Nurses is functioning since 2016.

Results: Trainings were carried out in 5 cities; over 300 cardiology, surgery, endocrinology, obstetrics/gynecology, laboratory nurses were trained. During initial testing 3–4 out of 5 replies were wrong. Final testing showed significant improvement in knowledge. Manual for Nurses was prepared/printed. Medical facilities requested continuation of trainings continue; Course in Endocrinology for nurses will start in 2020.

Conclusion: Diabetes as one of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has allocated a large proportion of cost, time and human resources of health systems. If other endocrinopathies are added the burden may ruin almost any health system. Nurses are health care providers who should be actively involved in prevention and early detection of DM/its complications and other endocrine disorders. After adoption of UNO Political Declaration and WHO Resolutions on NCDs, Governments are paying more attention to these conditions. The role of nurseshas started to change. We need not only totrain nurse-podiatrists, educators, diabetes/endocrine nurses, but to train all nurses in DM/endocrinology. There is an increased need for establishing new nurse specialties, such as nurse-practitioners/nurse-specialists to provide high-quality diabetes/endocrine care.