"Perception, Knowledge, and Attitudes of Educational Staff Regarding the Care of Children With Type 1 Diabetes: Evaluation of the Educational Program"

"Perception, Knowledge, and Attitudes of Educational Staff Regarding the Care of Children With Type 1 Diabetes: Evaluation of the Educational Program"

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease that requires continuous monitoring and regulation of glycemia. Children with type 1 diabetes face challenges that can disrupt their daily routines in school and kindergarten. This includes the need for self-monitoring, continuous blood sugar measurement, insulin administration, proper nutrition, regular physical activity, and timely interventions in cases of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Therefore, children with diabetes often require support from educational staff, including teachers, preschool educators, and other professional personnel while attending educational institutions.

A safe and supportive (pre)school environment is crucial for maintaining the health and well-being of children with type 1 diabetes. Teachers and preschool educators, as key actors in the daily (pre)school life of the child, play an important role in recognizing disease symptoms and managing emergencies. However, research shows that many teachers lack sufficient knowledge about the symptoms of diabetes and the necessary procedures in emergencies, which can endanger the health and safety of the child, as well as their equal participation in educational activities.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Educational staff employed in primary schools and/or kindergartens within the study area
• Individuals willing to participate who have provided informed consent
• Participants available for all planned assessments during the study period.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Educational staff who have type 1 diabetes themselves, to avoid bias in the assessment of knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes due to personal experience with the disease
• Educational staff who have close family members (parent, child, spouse, sibling) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, as personal experiences and additional knowledge gained through family circumstances could affect the objectivity of the results
• Individuals unable to participate in all phases of the study (e.g., due to planned absence or other reasons)
• Individuals who are unwilling or unable to provide informed consent
• This description clearly defines who is eligible and who is excluded from participation, ensuring the representativeness and objectivity of the study sample.