Needs of schoolchildren with type 1 diabetes in Extremadura: Family perceptions

Introduction: School-aged children with type 1 diabetes (DM1) require access to appropriate and safe care for their disease during their stay in the educational centre. Objective: To identify the needs perceived by families of schoolchildren with DM1 that affect their educational integration, safety, and well-being during the school day. Methodology: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire based on information and opinions provided by families of 362 schoolchildren between 3 and 16 years old with DM1 registered in their health history in the Public Health System of Extremadura. Results: The response rate was 56.9% (206). It was shown that 35% of schoolchildren with DM1 were treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy. Almost all of them (95.1%) required glucose monitoring, and 57.8% required insulin administration during the school day. Most (88%) children had adjusted well to school and did not describe any type of discriminatory treatment (87.4%). Glucagon is available in 82% of educational centres, in which 43.7% had a trained adult person to administer it. That teachers could recognise a hypoglycaemia was expressed by 21.4% of the families, and 29.1% were unaware of the existence of coordination protocols in the school. More than half (58.7%) claimed that the information available in schools about diabetes was low, and 77.2% stated that the control of the disease would improve if more training was provided to teachers. Conclusions: There are aspects optimally covered in the care of schoolchildren with DM1 in the schools of Extremadura. Among situations identified with potential room for improvement were adherence to the coordination protocol, information about diabetes, and training of adults to deal with emergency situations. Resumen: Introducción: El alumnado con diabetes tipo 1 (DM1) requiere durante su estancia en el centro educativo unos cuidados adecuados y seguros para su enfermedad. Objetivo: Identificar las necesidades percibidas por las familias del alumnado con DM1 que afecten a la integración educativa, seguridad y bienestar durante la jornada educativa. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y transversal, mediante encuesta, basado en la información y opiniones proporcionada por las familias de los 362 pacientes entre 3 y 16 años con DM1, registrados en la historia de salud del Sistema Sanitario Público de Extremadura. Resultados: Tasa de respuesta del 56,9% (206). El 35% del alumnado con DM1 estaba en tratamiento con infusión subcutánea continua de insulina. El 95,1% precisó medir la glucemia y el 57,8% administrarse insulina durante la jornada escolar. Un 88% presentó buena adaptación al colegio y el 87,4% no describió ningún tipo de trato discriminatorio. El 82% de centros dispuso de glucagón y en un 43,7% hubo alguna persona adulta entrenada para administrarlo. Un 21,4% de familias pensaban que los profesores podían reconocer una hipoglucemia. El 29,1% desconocían la existencia de protocolos de coordinación en centros educativos, el 58,7% alegaron que la información en el centro sobre diabetes fue poca y un 77,2% que su control mejoraría con más formación del profesorado. Conclusiones: Existen aspectos óptimamente cubiertos en la atención al alumnado con DM1 en los centros educativos de Extremadura. Las situaciones con margen de mejora son la adherencia al protocolo de coordinación, la información sobre la diabetes y el adiestramiento de adultos ante emergencias.