P-277: Mental health burden and initial response to a structured psychosocial intervention among pediatric diabetes healthcare providers: a study from Chile
D Rojas, C Gomar Padilla, F Giraudo, K Barnard-KellyAbstract
Introduction
Healthcare providers involved in pediatric diabetes care are frequently exposed to sustained emotional demands that may affect professional functioning and well-being. Evidence on structured approaches to address these challenges remains limited.
Objectives
To characterize mental health burden among healthcare providers in diabetes care and examine their initial response to a structured psychosocial intervention.
Methods
Data were collected following participation in a facilitated group session using a structured, interactive card-based approach designed to explore mental health experiences among healthcare providers in Chile. Participants completed a post-session Likert survey assessing mental health status, impact on work and relationships, and perceived usefulness of the intervention. Descriptive analyses were conducted.
Results
A total of 68 healthcare providers participated (83.8% female). Professional roles included pediatric endocrinologists (57.4%), dietitians (14.7%), nurses (10.3%), and psychologists (1.5%). Overall, 33% rated their mental health as poor or very poor, and 30% reported experiencing work-related anxiety frequently. Additionally, 78% reported reduced professional effectiveness associated with mental health challenges, and 57% indicated a negative impact on personal relationships. Regarding the intervention, 34.4% rated it as very or extremely helpful, 28.4% as moderately helpful, and 7.5% reported no perceived impact.
Conclusions
Substantial mental health burden was identified among healthcare providers working in pediatric diabetes care in Chile, with measurable impact on both professional and personal domains. The intervention showed initial perceived benefit, supporting its potential as a feasible approach to address these challenges. These findings provide early evidence to inform further evaluation and adaptation of structured psychosocial interventions in diabetes care teams.