Establishment of a type 1 diabetes structured education programme suitable for Chinese patients: type 1 diabetes education in lifestyle and self adjustment (TELSA)

BACKGROUND: Various guidelines recommend that all adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) should be offered an evidence based, structured education programme (SEP) to optimize self-management care. China has a 13,000 annual increase in newly diagnosed T1D cases, of which 65% are adults. However, there is yet no validated SEP targeted to T1D patients in China. The purpose of this study is to establish a structured T1D self-management education programme—‘Type 1 Diabetes Education in Lifestyle and Self Adjustment’ (TELSA) that is adapted to medical and cultural practices in China. METHODS: TELSA programme was developed based on the ADDIE model, following three steps: i) Semi-structured interviews were administered to 10 healthcare professionals (HCPs) and 13 T1D patients. Different topic guides, focusing on 4 dimensions including goals, contents, format of delivery, and quality assurance, were designed for either HCPs or patients. The interviews were recorded and analysed with thematic analysis. ii) Extracted themes were modified according to Delphi consultation. iii) Preliminary courses were conducted as pilot study to evaluate the effects of TELSA and optimization of the curriculum was finalized accordingly. RESULTS: A total of 18 themes in 4 dimensions of the programme design were identified in the final version: i) goals: ‘behaviour modification’ and ‘outcome improvement’; ii) contents: ‘living with T1D’, ‘self-monitoring of blood glucose’, ‘knowing insulin’, ‘insulin dose adjustment’, ‘carbohydrates and carbohydrate counting’, ‘hypoglycaemia’, ‘complications of diabetes’, ‘managing psychological issues’, ‘physical activity’, and ‘question-and-answer’; iii) format: ‘multidisciplinary team combined with peer support’, ‘face-to-face education followed by remote learning’, and ‘2-day programme held on weekends’; and iv) quality assurance: ‘after-class quiz’, ‘patients’ feedback’, and ‘long-term evaluation on effectiveness’. CONCLUSIONS: A type 1 diabetes structured education programme in China was set up and shown to be applicable under local medical, social, and cultural environment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03610984. Date of registration: August 2, 2018.