Reasons and interventions of repeated hospitalizations in school-age children with diabetes: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objective To investigate the reasons of repeated hospitalizations in school-age children with diabetes, and to explore the related interventions. Methods Based on purposive sampling, three endocrinologists from a Children's Hospital in Tianjin and the family members of 10 school-age children with diabetes were recruited into the study. A semi-structured depth interview was used to investigate the influence factors of the participants' compliance, acquisition of diabetes knowledge, and children's self-management. Claizzi phenomenological seven-step analysis was used to analyze data. Results Both the environmental factors and participants' attitudes would affect their compliance. The reasons of repeated hospitalizations included: insufficient knowledge and awareness of diabetes; lack of public education and concern; poor diet-control after discharge from hospital, inaccurate dose. Conclusions Intensive public education can be implemented through the internet to improve both knowledge and awareness of diabetes. Related health education should be strengthened to the children patients and their caregivers. Key words: Diabetes; Health education; Compliance; Qualitative study; School-age