ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of diabetic camp program on depression, self-efficacy and self-esteem of the juvenile diabetic patient who had participated with diabetic camp program at Seoul and Kyung In area from August 5 to August 9, 1995. Nursing staffs explained them how to respond to the questionnaire of depression. self-efficacy and self-esteem prior to beginning the program and following the program. The questionnaire of depression, self-efficacy and self-esteem was developed by both diabetes mellitus nurse specialist and pediatric nursing professors in reference with the previous research. Response items of the questions were structured as yes or no for the elementary school students and that of the questions were structured as 5 likert scale for the both middle and high school students. Paired t-test was used for the significance of the difference between values before and after the diabetic camp program. Depression decreased following the program, while self-esteem increased significantly following the program in elementary school students. There was no change in self-esteem, while self-efficacy increased significantly following the program in middle and high school students. Self-efficacy following the program was high as the frequency of exercise increased in the elementary school students. Self-efficacy prior to the program was high as the experience of diabetic education increased in the middle and high school students. Self-efficacy and self-esteem prior to the camp was highly correlated with that following the camp in middle and high school students. The result suggests that diabetic camp program could be on of ways to decrease depression and to increase self-efficacy of the diabetic children.