Self-Care Practices of Preparatory School Students with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in ELBehira Governorate

Abstract

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is more prevailing disease in adolescence. Intervening in self-care is crucial for disease management and to reduce the risk of diabetes-specific complications. The aim of the study was to assess self-care practices of preparatory school students with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in EL Behira Governorate. Egypt. Subjects: A total number of 300 students constituted the subjects of the study. Research design: A descriptive research design was used. Setting: Data was gained from governmental preparatory schools in El-Behira governorate. Sampling students were chosen by multistage sampling technique. Tools: one tool was used for data collection, a structured interview schedule composed of three parts to collect data about socio-demographic characteristics, students’ knowledge about TID, and assessment of students’ self-care practices. Results: 53.3% of the studied diabetic preparatory school students have fair total self-care practices score while 29.7% of them have poor self-care practices. A significant difference was revealed between the studied diabetic students’ total score of knowledge and self-care practices. 76.7% of the studied diabetic preparatory school students have poor total knowledge score. A significant difference was revealed between the studied diabetic students’ total score of knowledge and self-care practices In addition, diabetic students' age, previous hospitalization due to hypo/hyperglycemic coma, duration of disease discovery and socioeconomic status were significantly varied among them in relation to their total knowledge and self-care practices scores. Moreover, diabetic students' gender, father's education, mothers' education, mother's working condition were significantly varied among them in relation to their total self-care practices score. Conclusion and recommendations: The results of the present study concluded that the highest percentage of the studied diabetic preparatory school students have either fair or poor self-care practices and poor total knowledge score, so it is recommended to develop hotlines, mass media campaigns for dissemination of accurate information about juvenile diabetes and establishing an accurate surveillance and documentation system of diabetic students for easy accessibility and provision of accurate information.