Care and Safety of Schoolchildren with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Parental Perceptions of the School Nurse Role

Abstract

Schoolchildren with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) need supervision in the management of their disorder by the school nurse, securing proper care and safety in the school environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the parents’ perceptions regarding the care and safety of their children with T1DM at school. In this cross-sectional study, 356 parents of children with T1DM attending primary and secondary school (convenience sample) completed the “Parents’ Opinions about School-based Care for Children with Diabetes” and the “Safety of children with T1DM at school”. The majority (58.8%) noted that their children received some care from a school nurse, less than half (44.6%) declared feeling very safe concerning diabetes care, and 42.5% reported high levels of diabetes management satisfaction. Younger age of the child (p p p p p p < 0.043). The daily presence of a school nurse in school decreases absenteeism, greatly improves school performance and enhances diabetic management of schoolchildren with T1DM.

Keywords

• type 1 diabetes mellitus
• school nursing
• school-based care
• school-based safety
• parental perceptions