Where do teachers acquire knowledge about diabetes from?

Abstract

Diabetes is one of the most frequent chronic diseases and the incidence of this disease is still rising. This phenomenon is strictly connected with the problem of child care in education facilities. The greatest threat to pupils’ health and life is hypoglycaemia. The aim of the study was to access teachers’ interest the field of type 1 diabetes in pupils and to determine the sources of teachers’ knowledge in this field. A group of 581 primary and post-primary school teachers were examined (476 females and 105 males) in Lublin and Podkarpackie Province. The study was conducted by means of a questionnaire containing open and semi-open questions. Open questions concerning causes of diabetes and hypoglycaemia were analysed. No interest in gaining knowledge in the field of diabetes was declared by 24.8% of the respondents.. Most frequently, the respondents acquired their knowledge from press, books, leaflets and brochures (53.8%), from the Internet (36.6%), and TV programs (31.7%). Among biology teachers, the interest of gaining knowledge in the field of diabetes as well as the level of knowledge about this disease was higher. Taking into consideration the fact that the teachers declared press, the Internet and television programs as their main source of knowledge, it would be reasonable to consider the preparation of appropriate training materials addressed to this professional group. Training conducted by doctors or medical educators could help to consolidate and test the knowledge acquired independently.