The effect of home visits on the quality of life of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Oduwole AO, Uko RI, Tade T, Doherty OK, Nwodo R, Imafidon EO. The effect of home visits on the quality of life of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of home and school visits and to strengthen the knowledge on diabetes education on the quality of care and life of children and adolescents with diabetes. Methodology and results: This was a descriptive cross‐sectional study of all children and adolescents (n = 16, seven males and nine females), attending a pediatric diabetes center (mean age: 11.25 yr ± 4.82, range: 5–17 yr), mean duration of diabetes being 4.6 ± 3.9 yr, range 0.5–8.4 yr. Ten patients were visited by the medical social worker at home and school, their knowledge ondiabetes education was strengthened, and intervention effect was evaluated 4 months later. Positive effects observed were that clinic visits became regular, there was notification by school of clinical status, a reduction in number of hypoglycemic episodes at school, increased acquisition of glucometers, and daily and regular (100%) self home blood glucose (BG) monitoring. The mean center HbA1c was reduced from 12.86 ± 2.5% to 9.41 ± 1.56%, the change from previsit was 3.45%. The mean center morning BG dropped from 181.60 ± 71.96 to 127.54 ± 27.54 mg/dL reflecting change from previsit BG of 54.19 mg/dL. However, these visitations had little effect on checking of BG at school. Conclusion: This study stressed the importance of home and school visits and diabetes education on the quality of care and life of the children and adolescents with diabetes in our region.