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Mobile diabetes education and care: intervention for children and young people with Type 1 diabetes in rural areas of northern Germany
Author(s) -
Von Sengbusch S.,
MüllerGodeffroy E.,
Häger S.,
Reintjes R.,
Hiort O.,
Wagner V.
Publication year - 2006
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.1464-5491.2005.01754.x
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , psychological intervention , type 2 diabetes , type 1 diabetes , metabolic control analysis , cohort , rural area , quality of life (healthcare) , intervention (counseling) , gerontology , pediatrics , family medicine , endocrinology , nursing , pathology
Aims To improve the quality of care in children with Type 1 diabetes who have limited access to specialized diabetes care in rural areas, by providing a mobile diabetes education and care team, affiliated with a University hospital paediatric diabetes centre. Methods A cohort of 107 children and their families from eight rural hospitals was followed between July 2000 and July 2002. Parameters on quality of metabolic control (HbA 1c , hospitalization rate and number of episodes of severe hypoglycaemia), diabetes knowledge and quality of life at baseline (t 0 ), 6 weeks (t 1 ) and 6 months (t 2 ) after the interventions were measured. Results Mean HbA 1c was 7.9 ± 1.4% at t 0 . The proportion of HbA 1c values < 6.8% increased significantly ( P < 0.05) and of values > 8.0% decreased significantly ( P < 0.01) at t 1 and t 2 . The rate of hospitalization fell significantly by 9.4%, from 16.2% at baseline to 6.8% at t 2 ( P < 0.05). The children reported significantly better diabetes‐specific quality of life ( P < 0.05) and higher self‐esteem ( P < 0.01) after the intervention. Theoretical diabetes knowledge was increased both in the short and long term ( P < 0.05). Conclusions The intervention improved metabolic control, diabetes knowledge and diabetes‐specific quality of life. We conclude that high‐quality diabetes care in a rural area can be provided by a mobile diabetes education and care team.