Latifa AL Dossary
Swansea University, UK
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Clin Pediatr
Introduction: More than 180 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes. Unfortunately, it is very likely that this number will more than double by 2030 (American Diabetes Association, 2008). The incidence of type 1 diabetes has been increasing all over the world including Saudi Arabia. On 2008, Al-Herbish et al stated that the prevalence of DM I among Saudi children is estimated to be 109.5 per 100,000. Moreover, the incidence rate of DM I is dramatically increased on Eastern Province in Saudi children 6.99/100.000/year as proved by Abduljabbar et al, 2010. Aims of the Study: Generally in Saudi Arabia there are few studies which have explored children�s knowledge about their T1DM. One of the reasons of high spread of diabetes might be that children are not aware of methods that can help them in earlier detection and improved early intervention in managing the disease. The possible way to achieve that is to know about the disease, symptoms, reasons and methods which can then help in delaying its consequences and further complications. This research aims to explore health promotion strategies offered in children diabetic clinic served by a university hospital and governmental hospital in Saudi Arabia. Moreover to identify knowledge of children diagnosed with T1DM about this condition and the health promotion strategies used within the clinics for the children and their family. Therefore the study questions were: 1. To what extent do children and adolescents with T1DM understand the disease and the possible ways of managing it to prevent complications? 2. To what extent do the parents of children and adolescents with T1DM understand the disease and the possible ways of managing it to prevent complications? 3. What health promotion strategies do health professionals working with children, young people and their parents in Saudi Arabia employ? 4. What do children and adolescents with T1DM and their parent�s value in terms of health promotion strategies and are there gaps in current health promotion provision? Methods: In order to achieve that purpose, this research applied an ethnographic study design using qualitative methods of data collection. The qualitative approach was chosen as its methods enabled the researcher to determine and explore the unique personal experiences of the participants (Mason, 2002 & Silverman, 2011). The methods of data collection include: 1. Observation at the pediatric diabetic clinics in governmental Hospital in Dammam and University Hospital in Al Khobar during their health promotion giving over a period of three months. 2. In depth interview with the health team at each clinic for their views of health promotion guidance for children and young people and parent. 3. Interviewing children / adolescent on their knowledge of T1DM and their understanding of health promotion guidance. I used doll during interview with younger children to facilitate inspire them to talk. Also allow them to draw their prefer food. 4. Interviewing parents on their knowledge of T1DM and their understanding potential challenges and to comply with health promotion guidance. Explaining the views of children/ adolescent and parents on what they feel would help them and their children in their daily life. Results: The demographic characteristics of T1DM participants. Interviews with health team in each clinic, children / adolescents and parents (either mother or father) participants revealed their knowledge of diabetes type 1 and potential challenges for compliance with health promotion guidance. In general, the sample of this study contains; 7 health team, 16 children / adolescents and 16 parents. The interview transcript and observations are thematically analyse. Conclusion: The study seeks to potentially identify area for improvement from the perspective of children, young people and parents the challenges health professionals face when providing health promotion in this clinical field. This will provide further understand on current practice of health promotion for children and young people in Saudi Arabia. Identify area for improvement from the prospective of children, young people and parent. It will provide knowledge on the challenges health professionals face when provides health promotion guidance for children, young people and parents in Saudi Arabia.
Latifa Al Dossary is a PhD student in Nursing, at College of Human and Health Science at Swansea University. She started teaching in Nursing College at Imam Abdullarhman Bin Faisal University in Eastern region in Saudi Arabia since 2005. She has a Master degree in Clinical Science (Paediatric Nursing) from the University of Dammam in 2011. She started PhD journey in Oct 2015. She is focusing on Saudi children with type 1 diabetes.
