The effects of theory based diabetes management education on school children's blood glucose levels and quality of life

Aim: This study was conducted to find out effects of disease management education given to school children with diabetes on children's blood glucose levels and quality of life. Material Method: The study had a trial model with pre and post-test control group. Study universe consisted of 128 type-1 diabetes children aged between 8 and 12 registered to pediatric endocrinology polyclinic of Gaziantep University Şahinbey Education and Research Hospital and Avukat Cengiz Gökçek State Hospital. The universe was listed and odd numbers were included in experimental group and even numbers in control group, with 62 children in experimental and 64 in control group as the sample. Data were collected between June and November 2018 with Personal Information Form, Quality of Life Scale in Children with Diabetes Mellitus Child and Parent Form and Metabolic Control Form. Experimental group was divided into 7 groups of 8-12 children based on age (8,9,10 and 11,12) and given 4-day-long education. Numbers, percentages, averages, Chi-square, dependent and independent groups t-test were used in data analysis. Results: In post-test measurements of Quality of Life Scale, total score average was 73.3±10.8 for child and 67.8±11.4 for parent form in experimental group and 52.3±10.4 for child and 47.6±11.4 for parent form in control group. Differences between groups were statistically significant (p=0.000). Average HbA1c levels were 8.80±1.9 for experimental and 8.9±2.0 for control group and difference was not statistically significant (p=0.793). Conclusion: Theory based education given to children with Type 1 diabetes increased patients' quality of life and decreased HbA1c levels. Key Words: Patient education, Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, Quality of life, Nursing, Blood Glucose