Effect of Nursing Intervention on Juvenile Diabetic Patients' Health Literacy

Abstract

Background: Children and adolescents are the most vital human resource a country possesses. Children are a primary target cohort for health literacy research and interventions from the perspective of public health. Therefore, the current research sought to evaluate the effect of nursing intervention on the health literacy of juvenile diabetic patients. Subjects and methods: Pre-post tests were employed in a quasi-experimental design, where 40 juvenile diabetic patients (20 cases & 20 controls) were enrolled using convenience and a snowball sampling technique from social media groups (Facebook). Data was collected using four tools, including: an Interview Questionnaire composed of two parts (Socio-Demographic Data & Diabetes Knowledge Test), a Diabetes Self-Care Behaviors Questionnaire, a Diabetes Numeracy Test [DNT 15], and a Health Literacy Questionnaire included (Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents [HELMA] & Literacy Assessment Test for Diabetes [LAD]). Results: Juvenile diabetic children either study or control group mainly had insufficient HELMA, inadequate LAD and inadequate self-care behaviors before intervention. In addition to, unsatisfactory DM knowledge and numerical skills especially among the study group. Whereas the nursing intervention was an independently positive indicator of knowledge and HELMA ratings for diabetic children, that was statistically significant. Conclusion: After intervention, the study group had compelling and significant improvements regarding their DM knowledge, numerical skills, self-care behaviors, HELMA and LAD.