Learning to manage chronic adrenal insufficiency in children

Chronic adrenal insufficiency (CAI) requires lifelong replacement therapy. It is potentially fatal in the event of untimely discontinuation of treatment or acute decompensation, or in the event of poor dose management in certain situations. It seems essential to encourage the autonomy of children and their parents in the management of their disease, hence the need for an educational approach to help them. The objective of the therapeutic education program for patients with SAI is to train them to adapt oral glucocorticoid treatment in high-risk situations, to know how to identify acute decompensation and to learn how to administer hydrocortisone subcutaneously. The first step is to identify the patient's needs by establishing an educational diagnosis. The 2nd step consists in defining the skills to be reached by the patient on the basis of a real educational contract. The 3rd step consists of 4 group sessions and 2 individual sessions, based on self-learning accompanied by educators. The 4th step corresponds to the self-evaluation of the ETP program.

Autorentext

Il dottor Gargouri Lamia è docente presso la Facoltà di Medicina dell'Università di Sfax in Tunisia e specialista in pediatria. Ha un interesse particolare nei campi della gastroenterologia pediatrica e dell'educazione terapeutica del paziente.