Knowledge Attitudes and Sense of Self-Efficacy of Primary Education Teachers towards Students with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction The positive attitude towards students with Diabetes Mellitus type 1(DM1) and the teacher’s knowledge seem to be important conditions both for the practical support of children with type 1 ED in primary education and for the self-efficacy of teachers in the school context. Self-efficac...

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Main Authors: D. Detsis, E. Vlachou, T. Adamakidou, A. Zartaloudi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2023-03-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S092493382302093X/type/journal_article
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author D. Detsis
E. Vlachou
T. Adamakidou
A. Zartaloudi
author_facet D. Detsis
E. Vlachou
T. Adamakidou
A. Zartaloudi
author_sort D. Detsis
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The positive attitude towards students with Diabetes Mellitus type 1(DM1) and the teacher’s knowledge seem to be important conditions both for the practical support of children with type 1 ED in primary education and for the self-efficacy of teachers in the school context. Self-efficacy involves the belief that a person has the ability to create change through personal actions. Objectives To investigate the level of knowledge of Primary Education teachers about DM1, their attitudes towards students with insulin-dependent diabetes, as well as their levels of self-efficacy in the management of diabetes in the school environment. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, where the sample consisted of 150 teachers working in Public Primary Schools of Athens, the capital of Greece. The following questionnaires were used to collect the data: (a) socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, (b) primary education teachers’ knowledge and attitudes questionnaire about insulin-dependent diabetes, and (c) the generalized self-efficacy scale. Results 24.7% of participants were male and the mean age was 43.79 (±10.11). The average percentage of correct answers to the knowledge questionnaire was 86.00 (±9.01), also, the average score of perceptions about the role of the school nurse was 90.53 (±9.39), for the role of students with DM1 89.17 (±11.42), for the readiness of teachers/educational system to manage students with DM1 48.10 (±13.22), and of the self-efficacy was 30.71 (±13, 67). The questions with the lowest percentage of correct answers were: “What is the normal range of blood sugar values when we are fasting?” (62.70%) and “If you find a child with DM1 unconscious what should you do immediately?” (52.70%). The percentage of correct responses was found to have a positive statistically significant correlation with self-efficacy score (p=0.05), years of service (p=0.003), age (p=0.014), teachers who had at some point students with DM1 in their classroom versus those who did not (p=0.045). Conclusions Experienced and qualified staff could effectively support students not only practically by assisting them with daily activities but also by creating an environment based on understanding and acceptance. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
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spelling doaj.art-1fd56a3eb8fd4798a291a4d340d20cbc2023-11-17T05:08:30ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852023-03-0166S984S98510.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2093Knowledge Attitudes and Sense of Self-Efficacy of Primary Education Teachers towards Students with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes MellitusD. Detsis0E. Vlachou1T. Adamakidou2A. Zartaloudi3University of West Attica, Athens, GreeceUniversity of West Attica, Athens, GreeceUniversity of West Attica, Athens, GreeceUniversity of West Attica, Athens, Greece Introduction The positive attitude towards students with Diabetes Mellitus type 1(DM1) and the teacher’s knowledge seem to be important conditions both for the practical support of children with type 1 ED in primary education and for the self-efficacy of teachers in the school context. Self-efficacy involves the belief that a person has the ability to create change through personal actions. Objectives To investigate the level of knowledge of Primary Education teachers about DM1, their attitudes towards students with insulin-dependent diabetes, as well as their levels of self-efficacy in the management of diabetes in the school environment. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, where the sample consisted of 150 teachers working in Public Primary Schools of Athens, the capital of Greece. The following questionnaires were used to collect the data: (a) socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, (b) primary education teachers’ knowledge and attitudes questionnaire about insulin-dependent diabetes, and (c) the generalized self-efficacy scale. Results 24.7% of participants were male and the mean age was 43.79 (±10.11). The average percentage of correct answers to the knowledge questionnaire was 86.00 (±9.01), also, the average score of perceptions about the role of the school nurse was 90.53 (±9.39), for the role of students with DM1 89.17 (±11.42), for the readiness of teachers/educational system to manage students with DM1 48.10 (±13.22), and of the self-efficacy was 30.71 (±13, 67). The questions with the lowest percentage of correct answers were: “What is the normal range of blood sugar values when we are fasting?” (62.70%) and “If you find a child with DM1 unconscious what should you do immediately?” (52.70%). The percentage of correct responses was found to have a positive statistically significant correlation with self-efficacy score (p=0.05), years of service (p=0.003), age (p=0.014), teachers who had at some point students with DM1 in their classroom versus those who did not (p=0.045). Conclusions Experienced and qualified staff could effectively support students not only practically by assisting them with daily activities but also by creating an environment based on understanding and acceptance. Disclosure of Interest None Declaredhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S092493382302093X/type/journal_article
spellingShingle D. Detsis
E. Vlachou
T. Adamakidou
A. Zartaloudi
Knowledge Attitudes and Sense of Self-Efficacy of Primary Education Teachers towards Students with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
European Psychiatry
title Knowledge Attitudes and Sense of Self-Efficacy of Primary Education Teachers towards Students with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
title_full Knowledge Attitudes and Sense of Self-Efficacy of Primary Education Teachers towards Students with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
title_fullStr Knowledge Attitudes and Sense of Self-Efficacy of Primary Education Teachers towards Students with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge Attitudes and Sense of Self-Efficacy of Primary Education Teachers towards Students with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
title_short Knowledge Attitudes and Sense of Self-Efficacy of Primary Education Teachers towards Students with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
title_sort knowledge attitudes and sense of self efficacy of primary education teachers towards students with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S092493382302093X/type/journal_article
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AT tadamakidou knowledgeattitudesandsenseofselfefficacyofprimaryeducationteacherstowardsstudentswithinsulindependentdiabetesmellitus
AT azartaloudi knowledgeattitudesandsenseofselfefficacyofprimaryeducationteacherstowardsstudentswithinsulindependentdiabetesmellitus