Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Currently only 26% of children and young people with diabetes achieve national targets. Developmentally appropriate interventions including age specific learning outcomes and goals, delivered by trained educators, which are auditable and can be integrated into routine practice are recommended to optimise the management of children and young people (CYP) with diabetes and promote lifelong self-management.

Method: Health care professionals in the CYP Diabetes Network were trained in ‘Goals of Diabetes Education’, a new initiative congruent with national recommendations. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire which sought to understand variation in current provision, any gaps and challenges faced, as well as providing an opportunity to share innovative practice. Questionnaire design was peer reviewed to ensure it was aligned with research aims and was refined accordingly. A coding sheet was simultaneously developed to support data handling and analysis.

Results: Participants totalled 14 (dietitians, nurses, doctors) and represented 10 out of 22 CYP diabetes centres in Y&H. Preliminary data suggest inconsistency with regards current provision of age appropriate structured education criteria which was associated with absence of age specific written learning outcomes. Websites, mobile Apps and short videos were repeatedly mentioned by HCP’s as either forming part of their intervention to support education and self-management or recognising the potential.

Discussion: Embedding ‘Goals of Diabetes Education’ into routine care has the potential to reduce variation within and between centres. This is essential as this is thought to be the key difference in high performing teams. Learning outcomes which are age specific, written down and shared at the right time and in the right depth have the potential to involve children in clinic consultations more and ensure a more proactive and collaborative approach with the whole family. Meaningful involvement of CYP in the development and validation of both face-to-face and digital solutions will be imperative in optimising self-management.