Teachers' knowledge of juvenile diabetes: an investigation of alternative teaching methods

This study was designed to evaluate two methods of educating elementary school teachers about insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). A pretest-posttest quasiexperimental design using three groups was implemented. All groups received a pretest consisting of 22 yes and no questions and two high and low questions. A program consisting of a videotape, two pamphlets, and a discussion was given to Group I (n = 90). Group II (n = 78) was instructed to review the material given in the program on their own. Group III (n = 76) served as the control group. A posttest was administered 2 months following the pretest to all three groups. The data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance. The intervention did increase the teachers' knowledge of IDDM on the posttest and the significance level was.0030. Implications for school nurses, public health nurses, and health care providers are discussed.