TY - JOUR AU - Iovane, Brunella AU - Cangelosi, Antonina Marta AU - Bonaccini, Ilaria AU - Mastrorilli, Carla AU - Di Mauro, Dora AU - Fainardi, Valentina AU - Chiari, Giovanni AU - Maltese, Marilena AU - Caffarelli, Carlo AU - Vanelli, Maurizio PY - 2018/01/16 Y2 - 2024/03/19 TI - Effectiveness of a tailored medical support to overcome the barriers to education, treatment and good metabolic control in children with type-1 diabetes from ethnic minorities JF - Acta Biomedica Atenei Parmensis JA - Acta Biomed VL - 88 IS - 4 SE - ORIGINAL ARTICLES DO - 10.23750/abm.v88i4.6779 UR - https://www.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/6779 SP - 477-482 AB - <p class="p1"><em>Aim</em>: To analyze the effectiveness of a tailored medical support to help children from ethnic minorities to achieve the same good metabolic control of autochthonous peers with type-1 diabetes (T1D). <em>Methods</em>: Children &lt;10 years of age belonging to ethnic minority (EM) families (Group 1) were compared with autochthonous peers (Group 2) who received the diagnosis of T1D in 2014-2016. The Protocol for minorities included other than the standard protocol: booklets translated in ethnic minority languages; weekly visits at home or at school; family-guides; clinic visits supported by professional interpreters. After twelve months of this approach, parents of ethnic minority children answered a short questionnaire concerning satisfaction about educational tools for diabetes management. <em>Results</em>: From 1<sup>st</sup> January 2014 to December 31<sup>st </sup>2016, 72 children received the diagnosis of T1D at the University Children Hospital of Parma, Italy. Nineteen children belonged to an EM family (26.38%), and were included in the Group 1. Twenty-one autochthonous peers were randomly recruited for the Group 2. T1D was diagnosed at the same mean age in Group 1 (5.2±2.2) and in Group 2 patients (5.7±2.4). Metabolic derangements at diagnosis were more severe in Group 1 than in Group 2 patients. However, patients of both Groups showed a similar decrease in HbA1c levels during the first 3 and 6 months post diagnosis. Patients did not differ in mean insulin doses at discharge and at follow up. The calls to the emergency toll-free telephone number were more numerous from the parents from Group 1 than from the parents of Group 2. Total cost to implement the tailored protocol in Group 1 was higher of 87% compared with the standard protocol used for Group 2 patients. Great majority of parents reported to be satisfied with the provided diabetes education program. <em>Conclusions</em>: The results of this study suggested that children from EM families can achieve the same good metabolic control of autochthonous peers with T1D, providing a cost-effective tailored support to their family members. </p> ER -