Pediatric diabetes inpatient care: can medical staff knowledge be improved? (original) (raw)

2019, Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the benefit of a short workshop addressing knowledge and confidence of inpatient caregivers (physicians and nurses) treating pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Methods: Questionnaires to determine familiarity with T1DM management and confidence in care were distributed at three university-affiliated medical centers. A 5-h practical-skills workshop was conducted at one center. Same questionnaires were filled out immediately after the workshop and 3 months later. Evaluation of knowledge was based on 16 multiple-choice questions, and confidence based on 10 categorical questions. Results: Nurses and physicians (total 135, 106 women, 85 nurses) completed the questionnaires. The median knowledge score was 53.33 (40-66) and 46.7 (26.7-66.7) for nurses and physicians, respectively (p = 0.76). The confidence scores were 1.44 (1.1-1.9) and 1.56 (1.2-1.8), respectively (p = 0.7). More experience among nurses (>10 years) was associated with higher confidence scores (p = 0.04). Twenty-one physicians and 52 nurses, 66 women, attended the workshop. The median knowledge grade improved from 60 (47-67) to 81 (69-81), p < 0.001, immediately after, and to 69 (63-81), p < 0.001, 3 months postworkshop. The median confidence score improved from 1.8 (1.6-2) to 2.4 (2.1-2.6), p < 0.001, and to 2.2 (2-2.6), p < 0.001, respectively. There was no association with profession or seniority. Conclusions: Knowledge and confidence in care of medical staff treating inpatient T1DM pediatric patients are lacking. Both improved significantly after the workshop, independent of seniority or profession.