This paper describes current knowledge levels of school personnel about diabetes, discusses the findings of a systematic review of the literature on the effectiveness of diabetes educational interventions for school personnel, and presents recommendations for future research.
METHODS
English language literature published between January 1966 and May 2001 regarding the effectiveness of diabetes education of school personnel was systematically reviewed using multiple electronic databases.
RESULTS
Four studies that examined the effectiveness of diabetes education of school personnel were identified. One study demonstrated improvement in teacher knowledge of treatment, another reported significant improvement in comprehensive knowledge scores, and a third study demonstrated significant knowledge deficits across 4 measures of teacher knowledge about diabetes. A fourth study demonstrated a decrease in the cumulative frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis.
CONCLUSIONS
The literature regarding the effectiveness of diabetes education of school personnel is scant, the methodology is inadequate, the results are mixed, and the focus is on a narrow range of outcomes. Further research is needed to define effective interventions for improving the health and quality of life of school-age children and adolescents with diabetes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. LaPorte RE, Tajima N, Dorman JS, et al. Differences between blacks and whites in the epidemiology of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Am J Epidemiol. 1986;123: 592-603.
2.
2. Libman I, Songer T, LaPorte R.How many people in the US have IDDM?Diabetes Care. 1993;16:841-842.
3.
3. Lipman TH. The epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in children 0-14 yr of age in Philadelphia. Diabetes Care. 1993;16:922-925.
4.
4. Rewers M, LaPorte R, King H, Tuomilehto J.Trends in the prevalence and incidence of diabetes: insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in childhood. World Health Stat Q.1988;41: 179-189.
5.
5. National Diabetes Data Group. Diabetes in America. 2nd ed.Bethesda, Md: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders, 1995. NIH publication 95-1468.
6.
6. American Diabetes Association. Your child has type 1 diabetes... what you should know. Available at: http://www.Diabetes.org/advocacy/typel.asp. Accessed January 10, 2001.
7.
7. Reilly EA, Davis PB. Diabetes mellitus: management in the school setting. School Nurse. 1991;7:22-30.
8.
8. American Diabetes Association. Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. Diabetes Care. 2000;23:381-389.
9.
9. LaPorte RE, Matsushima M, Chang Y-F.Prevalence and incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes. In: Harris Ml, Cowie CC, Stern MP, Boyko EJ, Reiber GE, Bennett PH, eds. Diabetes in America. 2nd ed.Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 1995. NIH publication 95-1468: 37-45.
10.
10. Public L No. 94-142. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, 20 USC, §404 [18] (1975).
11.
11. American Diabetes Association. Care of children with diabetes in the school and day care setting. Diabetes Care. 2001;24(suppl 1):S108-S112.
12.
12. Type 2 diabetes mellitus in children. Primary care and public health considerations. JAMA. 2001;286:1427-1430.
13.
13. Type 2 diabetes among North American children and adolescents: an epidemiologic review and a public health perspective. J Pediatr. 2000;136: 664-672.
14.
14. United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group. Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33). Lancet. 1998;352:837-853.
15.
15. Walker D, Jacobs F.Chronically ill children in school. Peabody J Educ.1984;61:28-74.
16.
16. Pilling D.The Child With a Chronic Medical ProblemCardiac Disorders, Diabetes, Haemophilia, Social, Emotional and Educational Adjustment: An Annotated Bibliography. New York: Humanities Press; 1973.
17.
17. Pless IB, Pinkerson P.Chronic Childhood Disorders: Promoting Patterns of Adjustment. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers; 1975.
18.
18. American Diabetes Association. Fighting discrimination based on diabetes. Available at: http://www:diabetes.org/advocacy/discrim.asp. Accessed January 10, 2001.
19.
19. Gray DL, Golden MP, Reiswerg J.Diabetes care in schools: benefits and pitfalls of Public Law 94-142. Diabetes Educ.1991;17:33-36.
20.
20. Steams SE. Understanding the psychological adjustment of physically handicapped children in the classroom. Child Today. 1981;Jan-Feb:12-15.
21.
21. Schiefelbein S.Children and cancer: new hope for survival. Saturday Rev. 1979: 11-16.
22.
22. Vessey JA, Jackson PL, Rabin N, McFadden E.School and the child with a chronic condition. In: Jackson PL, Vessey JA, eds. Primary Care of the Child with a Chronic Condition. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby Year Book, Inc; 1996:72-85.
23.
23. Pardeck J.The Americans with Disabilities Act and child care programs. Early Child Dev Care. 1997;158:29-39.
24.
24. Bradbury AJ, Smith CS. An assessment of the diabetic knowledge of schoolteachers. Arch Dis Child. 1983;58: 692-696.
25.
25. Greenhalgh S.Improving schoolteachers' knowledge of diabetes. Professional Nurse. 1997;13:150-156.
26.
26. Ryan C, Longstreet C, Morrow L.The effects of diabetes mellitus on the school attendance and school achievements of adolescents. Child Care Health Dev.1985;11: 220-228.
27.
27. Frankel JJ. Academic performance of juvenile diabetics and teachers' attitudes. In: Laron Z, ed. Habilitation and Rehabilitation of Juvenile Diabetics. Leiden, Belgium: HE Stenfert Kroese; 1970.
28.
28. Vetiska J, Glaab L, Perlman K, Daneman D.School attendance of children with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2000;23:1706-1707.
29.
29. Licciardone JC, Kotsanos JG, Brinkman-Kaplan V, Cooper T, Jordan JE, Wishner KL. Resource utilization and work or school loss reported by patients with diabetes: experience in diabetes training programs. Am J Manag Care. 1997;3:777-782.
30.
30. Metcalfe A, Baum JD. Incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes in children under 15 years old in the British Isles in 1988. BMJ. 1991;302: 443-447.
31.
31. Puczynski S, Betschart J, Siminerio L, Puczynski M.Evaluation of school nurse practitioners' knowledge and responsibilities for school children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [abstract]. Diabetes. 1990;39:227a-227a.
32.
32. Krier J.Involvement of educational staff in the healthcare of medically fragile children. Pediatr Nurs. 1993;19: 251-254.
33.
33. Anderson RM, Hess GE, Hiss RG. The knowledge and attitudes of elementary and junior high school teachers regarding diabetes. Diabetes Educ.1989;15:314-318.
34.
34. Hodges LC, Parker J.Concerns of parents with diabetic children. Pediatr Nurs. 1987; 13:22-24.
35.
35. Challen AH, Davies AG, Williams RJW, Baum JD. Support for families with diabetic children: parents' views. Practical Diabetes. 1990;7:26-31.
36.
36. Lessing DN, Smith PGF, Baum JD, Metcalfe MA. Newly diagnosed diabetes: a study of parental satisfaction. Arch Dis Child. 1992;67:1011-1013.
37.
37. Robbins G.School visits: an extension of the diabetes education program for children. Diabetes Educ. 1981;7:30-33.
38.
38. Clark LM, Plotnick LP, Wessel GL, Zyna TL. Guidelines for the student with diabetes: a school policy. ADA Professional Affairs Subcommittee. Diabetes Educ.1992;18:515-515, 517-517, 519-519.
39.
39. Bowen C.Educating teachers in children's illnesses: a study. Nurs Stand. 1996;10: 33-36.
40.
40. Hiss RG, Anderson RM, Hess GE. The knowledge and attitudes of elementary and junior high school teachers regarding diabetes [abstract]. Diabetes. 1989;38(suppl 2): 38A-38A.
41.
41. Tatman M, Lessing D.Can we improve diabetes care in schools?Arch Dis Child. 1993; 69:450-451.
42.
42. Ludvigsson J.Diabetics in school. Knowledge and attitudes of school staff in relation to juvenile diabetics. Scand J Soc Med.1977;5:21-30.
44. Jarrett L, Hillam K, Bartsch C, Lindsay R.The effectiveness of parents teaching elementary school teachers about diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Educ.1993; 19:193-197.
45.
45. Henderson G.A diabetes education service for school personnel: safety and health for the student with diabetes. Beta Release. 1993;17:20-24.
46.
46. Gesteland HM, Sims S, Lindsay RN. Evaluation of two approaches to educating elementary school teachers about insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Educ.1989; 15:510-513.
47.
47. Vanelli M, Chiari G, Ghizzoni L, Costi G, Giacalone T, Chiarelli F.Effectiveness of a prevention program for diabetic ketoacidosis in children. An 8-year study in schools and private practices. Diabetes Care. 1999;22:7-9.
48.
48. Siminerio LM, Koerbel G.A diabetes education program for school personnel. Pract Diabetes Int.2000;17:174-177.
49.
49. Public L No. 101-336. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 USC, §1 21 01 (1992).
50.
50. Glasgow RE, Osteen VL. Evaluating diabetes education: are we measuring the most important outcomes?Diabetes Care. 1992;15:1423-1432.
51.
51. Norris SN, Engelgau MM, Venkat Narayan KM. Effectiveness of self-management training in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2001;24:561-587.
52.
52. Arent S.Supreme Court decisions make it more difficult for people with diabetes to fight discrimination. Diabetes Forecast. 1999;Sept:33-35.
53.
53. Murphy v United Parcel Service, 97-1992 (US 1999).
54.
54. Public L No. 93-112. The Vocational Rehabilitation Act, 29 USC, §504, 45CFR (1973).
