Evaluation of two approaches to educating elementary schoolteachers about insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Two approaches to better educate elementary schoolteachers about children with diabetes were tested. One group of teachers was given a program consisting of a video, pamphlets, and a question-and-answer session. The second group was informed that these materials were available to them in the media center. A 22-point questionnaire was used before intervention and 8 to 10 weeks later. Although both groups showed significant improvement compared with the control group, the improvement was slight and not felt to be clinically satisfactory. We conclude that mass education of elementary schoolteachers is ineffective and that other approaches need to be developed.