Education programmes for persons with type 1 diabetes using an insulin pump: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Diabetes Management
• Medical Education

Background:

• Insulin pump therapy (IPT) requires comprehensive patient education.
• Existing literature on the effectiveness of IPT education programs is limited.
• Optimizing educational strategies is vital for improving patient outcomes and self-management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on insulin pump education programs.
• To evaluate the effects of basic education for new users and re-education for experienced users.
• To identify gaps in current research regarding IPT education.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and ERIC databases (1999-2019).
• Inclusion of original studies reporting the effects of insulin pump education programs in individuals aged 16+ with type 1 diabetes.
• Analysis of nine studies meeting inclusion criteria, including one randomized controlled trial.

Main Results:

• Re-education interventions were associated with a significant reduction in severe hypoglycemic events.
• Three out of four studies reported a significant decrease in HbA1c levels following educational interventions.
• Studies indicated improvements in user knowledge and application skills, alongside program satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Both basic and re-education programs demonstrate benefits for insulin pump users.
• The current evidence base is limited by a small number of studies and varied study designs.
• Further high-quality research is needed to compare different educational approaches for insulin pump therapy.