Teachers’ knowledge about the principles of dealing with a student with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Abstract Introduction A proper self-management and therapy process, and the involvement of patients and their carers in this process, influences the effectiveness of T1DM therapy. The responsibility for the self-management process lies with children and adolescents with T1DM, as well as their parents and other carers. Aims The aim of this study was to assess the level of teachers’ knowledge of the principles of the treatment and self-management of T1DM in children and to demonstrate the influence of various factors influencing teachers’ knowledge. Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the teachers in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. The first part of the survey contained questions on sociodemographic data, the second part contained questions on personal attitudes towards a student with T1DM, and the third part contained twenty-nine questions assessing the basic knowledge of the self-management and treatment principles of T1DM. Results Tests were conducted with 698 (86.4%) female teachers and 110 (13.6%) male teachers. The median (25thQ ÷ 75thQ) score of the test on the teachers' knowledge was 20 (18 ÷ 21) points, with a maximum of 29 and a minimum of 0 points. Male teachers, aged between 26–40 years, with 6–10 years of seniority, working in rural areas, having a person with T1DM in their immediate environment or having a student with T1DM in their class had a higher knowledge level. Teachers who worked in schools where no nurse was employed and those who had not completed specific training on the principles of caring for a child with T1DM at school had a lower level of knowledge. Conclusions 1. Knowledge of teachers is insufficient to ensure safe stay at school for a child with T1DM. 2. The ongoing training of teachers on the principles of the self-management and treatment of T1DM is necessary to improve and increase the safety of children and adolescents with T1DM in school units. 3. There is a need to improve the quality of health care for children with T1DM in the learning environment by increasing the number of school nurses and improving their knowledge, and by the ongoing training of teachers and other staff in school units. 4. Detailed care plans should be developed for children with T1DM, adapted to the school conditions.

Keywords

• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Self-management
• Treatment
• Knowledge
• Teachers
• Children