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IDEAL: A Comprehensive Virtual Training Program for Pediatric Diabetes Educators in Low-Resource Settings -
Anju Virmani1, Sirisha K Boddu2, Preeti Singh3
1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Max Super Specialty Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Introduction:
Pediatric diabetes educators (PDEs) are scarce in low-resource settings (LRSs), compromising diabetes care and increasing morbidity and mortality.
Methods:
The Indian Society for Pediatric & Adolescent Endocrinology (ISPAE) developed ISPAE Diabetes Education And Learning (IDEAL), a 12-week virtual program with 24 interactive sessions of 2 h each, 58 faculty members, practical assignments, a rigorous exit exam, and ongoing post-certification engagement via WhatsApp.
Results:
Since October 2021, 177 PDEs (128 nonphysicians, 49 physicians) have been trained in 8 batches, 9th batch completing. Teaching is in English, but assignments are accepted in 8 Indian languages. A total of 91% of trainees were women, 24% were persons with type 1 diabetes or their parents, and 50% were from smaller cities. Engagement was high, with a 91% attendance rate. Post-session test scores improved significantly (p < 0.05). IDEAL received the ISPAD Innovation Award (2023) and ISPAD endorsement. Eighty-five of the 177 IDEAL alumni ("IDEALites") completed a post-course survey. Of these, 88% are actively contributing to pediatric diabetes care and earning recognition and awards for their efforts.
Challenges:
This study has the following limitations: limited hands-on experience, a demanding program, and language barriers.
Conclusion:
IDEAL is a pioneering, structured, intensive, virtual, award-winning PDE training program. Being accessible and sustainable, it can serve as a practical model for other programs in LRS.
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