Aims and Rationale
The aim of this study was to explore the clinical and psychosocial support Australian diabetes nurse educators’ provide to people with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy, with a view to improving clinical practice and, ultimately, outcomes for people using pumps.
Methods
Interpretive Description methodology was used to guide this study which drew on semi structured interviews with diabetes nurse educators and people with type 1 diabetes on insulin pumps. Thematic analysis was used for analysis of the data.
Findings
Twenty participants were interviewed for this study including 9 diabetes nurse educators and 11 people with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy.
The 4 main themes identified from the diabetes nurse educators were; the learning phase, meeting consumer needs and own expectations, reframing professional practice and challenging the role.
Four themes identified from the consumers experiences of receiving pump support from diabetes nurse educators were; support needs, support provided, challenges and enablers, and overlapping roles between diabetes nurse educators, endocrinologists and pump company representatives.
Conclusions
There is a need for diabetes nurse educators to have structured education on insulin pump therapy that includes a mentoring component and consumer participation. Despite having significant support needs consumers of insulin pump therapy receive varying levels of support from diabetes nurse educators, endocrinologists and pump company representatives. Clarification is required on the role of the diabetes nurse educator, endocrinologist and insulin pump company representative to avoid consumer confusion.