Implementation and evaluation of a longitudinal diabetes educational programme for adolescents

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Diabetes Self-Management Education
• Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Background:

• International guidelines advocate for continuous educational programs to enhance diabetes knowledge and self-efficacy in youth.
• Paediatric diabetes clinics face challenges in implementing structured, continuous educational interventions for adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a structured, longitudinal educational program, the Diabetes Learning Centre (DLC), for adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
• To assess the feasibility, patient satisfaction, and impact on self-management confidence among adolescent T1D patients participating in the DLC program.

Main Methods:

• A three-phase quality improvement project involving program development, feasibility assessment (attendance rates), and evaluation of confidence and satisfaction.
• Utilized Likert scales to measure baseline and post-intervention confidence in T1D self-management skills.
• Descriptive statistics and association analysis were employed to understand patient characteristics and confidence levels.

Main Results:

• The DLC program demonstrated high feasibility with an 81% attendance rate among eligible adolescents.
• While overall confidence was moderate, specific self-management skills showed lower confidence levels, correlating with higher HbA1c.
• High participant satisfaction (85%) and improved confidence in self-management skills were reported post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• A longitudinal T1D educational model is feasible and well-received in a paediatric setting.
• The DLC program effectively addresses educational gaps, improving adolescent confidence and satisfaction in diabetes self-management.
• This model offers a replicable template for enhancing diabetes care education in youth.