Teachers' knowledge about type 1 diabetes in south of Spain public schools.

AIMS: To evaluate the knowledge of teachers in educative public centres (pre-, primary, and secondary schools) about type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the Puerto Real University Hospital area (Cadiz, Spain).

METHODS: Descriptive observational study in which 756 teachers' answers on the Test of Diabetes Knowledge for Teachers (TDKT) were analysed. Teachers from 44 educative public centres in the Puerto Real University Hospital area (Cadiz, Spain) were selected by randomized sampling (mean age, 44.3 ± 8 years; 61.7% women).

RESULTS: Although 43.2% survey respondents recognised having had or currently having children or adolescent students with T1D, most demonstrated they did not have enough knowledge about T1D (mean score, 6.0 ± 4.3 points from a maximum of 16), and only 5.1% had sufficient knowledge (13-16 points) to be an effective support person to students with diabetes in school. However, the vast majority of survey respondents correctly answered questions about symptoms (74.2%) and hypoglycaemia treatment (85.9%). Univariate analysis of factors associated with teachers' knowledge about diabetes revealed that teachers with ≤ 15 years of teaching experience and physical education teachers had better knowledge than their co-workers.

CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to improve teachers' knowledge about diabetes in our health area with the aim of improving the security of children and adolescent students with T1D in school centres.