160-LB: T1D Technology Uptake in Massachusetts Schools: Preliminary Data Gathering

Abstract

As length of hospital stay at T1D diagnosis declines, clinicians must innovate to manage pediatric T1D care. Concurrently, insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor (CGM) use has increased in Massachusetts (MA) youth. Objectives: To report school nurse assessments of: 1. time MA school nurses coordinate parent-student T1D care; 2. prevalence of IP and CGM use in MA schools. Methods: Questionnaires were emailed to 1330 licensed school nurses in March 2019; 327 (25%) submitted data on 576 students, i.e., student/RN = 1.76. Demographics: School Nurses: The School Health Unit in the Commonwealth of MA is divided into 5 regions: Western, Central, MetroWest/Boston, Northeast and Southeast. 93% of questionnaires were answered by public school nurses; 94% of nurses work in 1 school and 5% in 2 schools; 67% of schools have 1 FTE, 31% have 2 FTE and 3% have ≥3 FTE nurses;33% attended a T1D continuing education course in the past year. Demographics: Students: ages 3 to 18 years, enrolled in pre-school-grade 12; 29% receive free, reduced or universal free school lunch; 4% speak English as a 2nd language; 67% have a 504 plan, 19% an Individualized Education Plan, and 79% an Individualized Health Care Plan. Attendance, Tardiness and Early Dismissal: School year 2018 - 2019: 12% of students were reported absent ≥10% of days; 8% were reported tardy ≥10% of days due to home T1D management; and 10% were dismissed early due to T1D management concerns at school. No student was dismissed from school via ambulance. Technology: 50% wear an insulin pump and 96% were reported to monitor glucose at school. Of those, 32% monitor interstitial and capillary glucose, 30% monitor only interstitial glucose and 37% monitor only capillary glucose. Four percent do not monitor glucose at school. Communication: School nurse respondents spend 4.3 minutes/student/day communicating w a student’s parent/guardian. Massachusetts school nurses have ~7 hours/day to assist T1D-affected youth and the data supports most students see a school nurse daily. Disclosure M. Quinn: Advisory Panel; Self; Dexcom, Inc. C.M. Pettengill: None. J. Afzali: None. S. Toulouse: None. J. Afzali: None. L.A. Melchionda: None. A. Linehan: None. J. Connolly: None.