A pilot study of school counselor's preparedness to serve students with diabetes: relationship to self-reported diabetes training.
This cross-sectional, observational pilot study investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of 132 school counselors regarding students with diabetes. Respondents were primarily white, female, with a master's degree, aged 42 years, and with 10 years of school counseling experience. Most counselors worked at large, public, suburban, and high schools. A majority reported that there were children with diabetes in their schools, and 40% had worked directly with several students with diabetes. However, most indicated that they had received no specific training about diabetes. On a standardized measure of school personnel knowledge of diabetes, school counselors showed only a basic level of practical diabetes knowledge that is insufficient to provide effective support for diabetic students. Relative to counselors who reported no diabetes training, those who reported diabetes training showed more knowledge of diabetes and its management in schoolchildren. On a standardized measure of the psychosocial impact of diabetes, those who reported training also endorsed attitudes that indicated better appreciation of the psychosocial impact of living with diabetes. Educational attainment and number of students with diabetes served in the past was not related to knowledge or attitudes. Awareness of recommended accommodations, educational planning, problems with school personnel, and risk for psychological disturbance among diabetic students was limited. These findings suggest that school counselors are not well prepared to support diabetic students and that training may help prepare them. Practical suggestions for school counselors' care of diabetic students are offered.
Wagner
Julie
J
Division of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA. juwagner@uchc.edu
James
Amy
A
D000328:Adult; D003237:Connecticut; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000628:therapy*; D004517:Education, Professional; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011361:Professional Competence; D012572:School Health Services