O-37: Development of a virtual training course for healthcare professionals working in pediatric and youth diabetes care in under-resourced settings
C Eigenmann, S Lin, G D Ogle, R HileyAbstract
Introduction
Children and youth with diabetes in under-resourced settings experience disproportionately high morbidity and mortality, partly due to limited access to healthcare professionals (HCP) trained in pediatric and adolescent care.
Objectives
To develop a foundational, widely accessible training course to strengthen HCP capacity in pediatric and youth diabetes care in under-resourced settings.
Methods
Course development was informed by a Life for a Child needs assessment of HCPs across 47 countries and a scoping review. An iterative co-design process was undertaken with an international advisory committee comprising of pediatric endocrinologists, diabetes nurses, and allied health professionals from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia, and Europe. Course content was aligned with ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines (2022, 2024) and underwent peer review for clinical accuracy. A specialist e-learning designer translated content into interactive, online modules.
Results
Informed by the needs assessment (n=224 HCPs, 33 countries), course design addresses identified key barriers, including device and connectivity limitations, English language proficiency, and time constraints. Hosted on the LearnUpon platform, the Tier 1 course comprises approximately 5 hours of self-paced learning across 14 core modules. It is mobile phone-accessible, uses low-literacy and universal learning design principles, and incorporates case studies, quizzes and reflective problem-solving activities. The course has received ISPAD endorsement. Evaluation includes pre- and post-course knowledge assessment and self-reported confidence. Content of 12 of 14 modules has been completed to date.
Conclusions
This virtual training course addresses a well-documented global gap in foundational pediatric and youth diabetes care knowledge in HCPs working in under-resourced, isolated settings. A francophone translation and a more advanced Tier 2 course are planned.