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A Project in Diabetes Education for Children
Author(s) -
Bloomfield S.,
Calder J.E.,
Chisholm V.,
Kelnar C.J.H.,
Steel J.M.,
Farquhar J. W.,
Elton R.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1990.tb01348.x
Subject(s) - medicine , club , attendance , diabetes mellitus , randomized controlled trial , pediatrics , physical therapy , endocrinology , economics , anatomy , economic growth
Forty‐eight families with children less than 13 years old attending a paediatric diabetic clinic volunteered for a 2‐year randomized crossover trial to determine whether an informal education programme (diabetic club) could improve diabetic control. Group A attended the diabetic club for 10 afternoons of informal education in the first year, while Group B continued at the routine clinic (5 visits per year). For the second year Group A returned to the clinic, Group B attended the club. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA 1 ) remained stable while attending the club but rose significantly ( p < 0.01) while attending the clinic in both groups (HbA 1 at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years: Group A, 9.6 (SD 1.2), 9.6(1.4), 10.7(2.1)%; Group B 8.9(1.3), 10.4(1.4), 10.5(1.4)% (normal reference range 4.7‐7.9%)). Other indices of control were unchanged. Diabetic problem‐solving scores of parents improved ( p <0.01) but their knowledge of diabetes did not correlate with their child's HbA 1 . Dietary intake showed a reduction in percentage of energy taken as fat (40% vs 37.7%, p < 0.05) during club attendance. The percentage of parents reporting helpful social contact between families increased during their club year (Group A 50 to 78%, Group B 32 to 57%, p < 0.001). Psychological measurements remained unchanged. An education programme for diabetic children may stabilize diabetic control in the short term but this effect is not sustained. The main benefit was the support provided by increased social contact with families of other diabetic children within the informal framework of the diabetic club.