Project Purpose: Increase patient compliance, satisfaction and communication between the school nurse, the school-based clinic, type 1 diabetic students and families at a moderate sized public Illinois high school using a web-based application, BlueLoop®.
Methodology: Parents, guardians and students within the selected moderate sized Illinois public high school diagnosed with type 1 diabetes were invited to an informational meeting to discuss the web-based application, BlueLoop®. Education was provided to everyone in attendance along with information on consent, assent and implementation of BlueLoop®. Once required documentation had been obtained, interested parties were educated on BlueLoop® and its use. BlueLoop® use was initiated and continued until the end of the semester; however, parties were able to stop use at any time they desire. Individual interviews were held at the conclusion of the semester to discuss each person’s assessment of BlueLoop®’s ease of use, communication and if they choose to continue use. The interviews were held separately and recorded. The recordings were then transcribed, and common themes were noted along with direct quotes from all parties involved.
Participants: Three of the five diagnosed type 1 diabetic students and families within the moderate sized Illinois public high school elected to participate.
Findings: 100% of the participants reported satisfaction with use of the web-based application, desired to continue its use and felt that communication was increased in comparison to the previous protocol. Two students have chosen to not participate in the project and of those students one continues to use the previous method and the other student, and their family have chosen to not use either method nor do they communicate with the public high school regarding the student’s type 1 diagnosis. Students have continued the use of BlueLoop® throughout the spring semester. Incoming freshmen and students will be given the option of using BlueLoop® and a policy and procedure has been written and accepted by the school administration.
Key Words: Type 1 Diabetes, Web-based application, BlueLoop®
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