Effect of Self-care Education at a Diabetes Camp on Diabetes Management Behaviors, Knowledge and Self-efficacy in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Study purposes were to exam effects of self-care education for children with type 1 diabetes on their diabetes management behaviors and to explore the relationship among diabetes management behaviors, knowledge, self-efficacy and clinical variables. METHODS: This study was a one group quasi-experimental study. Study participants were children with type 1 diabetes and attended a four hour self-care education of a diabetes camp. Data were collected using structured questionnaires including Diabetes Management Behavior Scale (DMBS), Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center's Brief Diabetes Knowledge Test and Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Self-Management. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 12 (+/-2.3) years. After the education, their DMBS and knowledge improved, but the improvement was not statistically significant (t=1.758, p=.101; t=0.528, p=.606). Two areas of DMBS, daily prevention behaviors and modification of care plan, were associated with study variables. Daily prevention behaviors were associated with duration of diabetes (r=.653, p=.008), HbA1c (r=.563, p=.038) and having a complication (r=-2.788, p=.015). Modification of care plan was associated with age at diagnosis (r=-.552, p=.033). CONCLUSION: Children with type 1 diabetes could improve some parts of their diabetes management behaviors even after a short diabetes camp.