Level of professional competence of health care professionals in public child and school health care in Pleven municipality for participation in diabetes management in childhood
General Medicine, 2025, 27(1), 10-15.
G. Markova1, M. Angelova2, S. Elkina3
1 Department of Nursing Surgical Care, Faculty of Health Care, Medical University ‒ Pleven
2 Department of Nursing Therapeutic Care, Faculty of Health Care, Medical University ‒ Pleven
3 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University ‒ Pleven
Abstract. Introduction: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is considered as most common metabolic disease, diagnosed during childhood. In recent decades, the incidence of T1D in children has tripled compared to the 80s. Most of youngest children with diabetes are attending day care settings. In this respect, health care professionals in childcare facilities and schools should be prepared to provide adequate specialized care. Aim: To determine the level of professional competence of health care providers (especially nurses) practicing in childcare and schools on the territory of Pleven Municipality, to take part in diabetes management in childhood. Materials and Methods: Comprehensive review of available literature on the problem was done. A questionnaire with 15 original questions was composed, and a direct group survey among 47 nurses, who received training on diabetes management, was conducted. Data from the survey were processed with statistical software packages IBM SPSS Statistics 25 and Excel for Windows. Results: In January 2024, a two-day training on the topic “Nursing care for children with diabetes in nurseries, kindergartens and schools” with 47 nurses working in childcare facilities and schools in Pleven region was held. At the end of the training a survey among the participants was conducted. The results showed that health care professionals achieved the necessary knowledge to manage appropriate the problems of children with diabetes mellitus in the educational institutions. Conclusion: Better management of diabetes in childhood requires a specialized continuous training, including for health care professionals in childcare and educational settings. Maintaining good glycemic control in children with diabetes is a complex responsibility and demands serious support from all – parents, the health care team and school staff/care providers.
Key words: diabetes mellitus, children, training, health cares
Address for correspondence: Gergana Markova, e-mail: markova_gergana@mail.bg