ASSESSMENT of KNOWLEDGE of TEACHERS EMPLOYED at SCHOOLS IN ISTANBUL REGARDING THE SUBJECT of TYPE-1 DIABETES: THE EFFECTS of THE FOUR-YEAR DIABETES TRAINING PROGRAM. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of teachers in Istanbul regarding Type-1 diabetes mellitus (DM), to evaluate their awareness about the disease as well as to investigate whether the Diabetes Awareness Education Program which has been implemented in Turkey since 2010 has improved the awareness of teachers regarding Type-1 DM. Method: In 2014, a total of 1003 teachers from 203 primary-secondary and high-schools in Istanbul were included in the study. After registering the socio-demographic data of these teachers, they were asked to fill out a survey in order to assess their awareness and basic knowledge regarding Type-1 diabetes, including the definition of the disease and identification and management of acute complications such as hypoglycemia-hyperglycemia. Moreover, it was noted whether they had ever heard about the diabetes awareness education program which has been implementing at schools in our country since 2010, and if so, what kind of activities they have carried out according this program. Results: While 29.3% of the participants heard of the diabetes awareness education program, 70.6% of them never heard of such a program. Only 15.9% of these teachers had participated in such a program while 84.1% of them had not participated. While the vast majority of teachers knew the general definition and symptoms of the disease, a significant proportion of them (about 40%) did not have sufficient knowledge about the intervention of hypoglycemia which is one of the acute complications of the disease. Conclusion: Although a diabetes awareness education program has begun to be implemented for several years in our country most of teachers in Istanbul (70.6%) were unaware of this program. It is quite apparent that serious efforts should be expended to popularize the diabetes education program at schools