Abstract: Type 1diabetes is one of the most common endocrine conditions in childhood. Approximately 86,000 children under 15 year are estimated to develop type 1 diabetes annually worldwide In 2015 the number of children with type 1 diabetes exceeded half million. Therapeutic education is central to the management of diabetes, especially in children and adolescents. Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) in residential camps exposes children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes to intensive self-management education in a short-term recreational camp setting. Albasma Camp for children with Diabetes was established in 2008, to educate children about diabetes management in an enriching, diabetes-friendly environment. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of short-term residential camps in improving the practice and skills of diabetes self-management among children attendinga seven-day diabetes camp where 306 diabetic children participated from different states of United Arab Emirates. Data was collected using pretested questionnaire, check list and Focus Groups Discussion. The study found that there was a strongly significant improvementin the overall Diabetes Self-Management (DSM) practices of the study participants pre and post the camp (P-value<0.00).and the majority of the study participants did not exposed to any hyper (67%) or (58%) hypoglycaemic episodesduring the 6 months following the camp. Highly statistically significance between participant ages and average HbA1c pre and postcamp (p value < 0.00) for the between the age of 8 and 12 years, however, among the participants aged 13 to 14 there was a statistically significance in HbA1c values compared to age only before attending the camp, but after the camp the relationship was not significant (P- value > 0.05).Existence of first degree relatives with diabetes, andexperience of attending a previous camp duration of diabetes were not significant factor in the study. The study concluded residential diabetes camps had a positive impact on glycemic control in children living with type 1 diabetes. The study recommended repeated educational programmes to assure continuity of diabetes management and controlling glycaemiain children with diabetes. The study suggested further studies with more duration of follow up.
Keywords: Type 1diabetes, children, recreational camp, diabetes management.
Title: Effect of Attending a Residential Camp on Diabetes Self-Management in Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A prospective Study, United Arab Emirates 2017
Author: Dr. Noha Ibrahim Eljack Ibrahim, Prof. Abdelelah Mohamed Elhassan, Dr. Nasir Ahmed Ali Mohammed
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
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