The purpose of this study is to pilot and evaluate a new online application to train school nurses to manage care for children with diabetes in school using the latest best practice principles. Rogers’ Theory of the Diffusion of Innovations guided development of the online training. There are a variety of State initiatives to provide information and education for health care professionals, and school staff to improve the quality of care for school children with diabetes while in school. There is no comprehensive evaluation plan that seeks to determine the outcomes of these information and education initiatives. A partnership was established with the University, State Department of Health, and State School Nurses Association to develop an efficient new online application to train school nurses in the State to establish a best practices diabetes management program to manage care for school children with diabetes. An accompanying best practices manual was also developed. It is important to have an evaluation strategy that includes pilot testing early in development to assure quality and relevance of the online diabetes management training. Two pilot training sessions with 16 school nurses have been completed. A third pilot is planned with 10-15 additional school nurses. Three online evaluation instruments were developed to determine: 1) if each lesson’s objectives were met, 2) effectiveness of the teaching method, 3) ways to improve, 4) overall evaluation of the online course, and 5) if the information provided in training will improve school nurse's ability to manage children with diabetes. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyze results. This evaluation lays the groundwork for phase two which will determine if trained school nurses are able to implement a best practices diabetes management program in their schools and outcomes for children with diabetes, their families, school personnel, and the child’s primary care provider.
Session #1219 - Poster Session I
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)