Adaptations des pratiques d’ETP destinées aux personnes diabétiques en France durant la crise de la COVID-19 : enquête descriptive sur 153 programmes d’ETP durant le confinement de mars 2020

INTRODUCTION: To protect people against the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the French government chose a general lockdown of mainland France and the overseas departments during the initial, most acute phase of the pandemic (March 2020). The organization of care was turned upside down. Patients with diabetes are at risk of severe forms of COVID-19 and their care was completely disrupted, especially in hospitals, outpatient follow-ups and offers of therapeutic education programs for diabetic patients (TPE-DB). OBJECTIVES: To describe the measures adopted by healthcare professionals for TPE-DB programs that were or were not maintained during the first lockdown. METHODS: Questionnaire survey conducted of coordinators of TPE-DB programs, during the lockdown period from March 13 to May 11, 2020. RESULTS: The coordinators of 153 TPE-DB programs responded to the survey: 72% (n = 110) of programs were discontinued, 27% (n = 42) continued with adapted programs when 7% (n = 10) implemented specific activities related to COVID-19 and chronic disease. CONCLUSION: 1) The sudden stop of TPE-DB programs was due to several reasons: imposed closure of structures by authorities, redeployment of professionals to other medical activities, patients no longer consulting in departments. TPE was more integrated into care consultations and with rare exceptions, some patients were educated by those who remained in their posts. For the TPE programs that were maintained, they focused on the development of remote practice strengthening, adapting the content of the TPE. 2) This crisis highlighted the frailty of TPE, an activity that has often been sidelined. But it also provided opportunities for developing e-TPE programs; the respondents did not indicate whether these e-programs had been authorized by the regional health agencies (ARS). E-programs could now be integrated into patient care; however, there is the risk of a digital divide for older people or those of low sociocultural level.