Parents’ view on issues and problems of managing type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents in everyday life: results of the аll-russian sociological survey “VOSHOD”

Abstract

Introduction. Proper education of patients and their environment is essential in achieving compensation for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Aim. Identifying problems in T1DM management in children and adolescents in daily life and assessing the needs for educational activities for children and parents. Materials and methods. A sociological survey with the participation of 508 parents of children and adolescents with T1DM was conducted in February-April 2022 in 7 federal districts of the Russian Federation. The electronic questionnaire contained 80 questions on various areas of disease management. Results. Age of children from 3 to 18 years (average 10.7 ± 3.64 g); gender of children female – 52.2% (265), male – 47.8% (243); T1DM experience – from 1 month to 15 years (average 3.9 ± 3.2 years). Parents face problems of glycemic variability in children (19.5%), difficulties in adjusting insulin dosages (14.4%), catering in schools/kindergartens (21.0%), preferential provision of insulins and medical devices for self-control of glycemia (17.1%), age characteristics of childhood and adolescence (14.9%), psychological problems (24.4%), indifference of medical workers (10.8%), difficulties of examination for glycated hemoglobin (36.3%); low physical activity of children (57.9%), lack of knowledge and skills of proper monitoring of glycemia during physical activity (46.6%), inaccessibility of sports (22.7%). Parents receive knowledge in schools of diabetes (37.6%), from endocrinologists (42.5%), dia chats in instant messengers (70.5%), social networks (59.6%), Internet resources (77.2%) are considered an important source of information. 91.3% of parents need constant replenishment of knowledge, they consider it important to educate children and form a responsible attitude towards their health. Conclusion. The current continuing education of patients with T1DM and their environment in the management of the disease in everyday life, the solution of issues of timely and full preferential provision of children and adolescents with T1DM medical devices for monitoring glycemia and insulin preparations will contribute to increasing the effectiveness of therapy, reducing the risk of complications and improving their quality of life.