Sick day management rules: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among children with type 1 diabetes and their caregivers in Taif City, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Background: Children with diabetes cannot manage their condition on their own during sick days. Therefore, it is crucial for parents to be educated about diabetic self-management at the time of their child’s diagnosis and to have this knowledge regularly reviewed during follow-up appointments. Effective treatment and sick day management for type 1 diabetes (T1D) rely heavily on self-care practices in daily life. Hence, health education is a vital component of managing the condition and preventing complications. Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of sick day management in children with T1D and their caregivers, identifying gaps to improve awareness and prevent complications. Subjects and Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design. The study included 214 parents of children with T1D. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire written in Arabic, which was distributed online or administered through phone call interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0, with quantitative data expressed as mean ± standard deviation and qualitative data as frequency and percentage. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess associations, the Chi-square test compared proportions, and P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Although 60.3% of caregivers demonstrate good knowledge by scoring above 75%, it is important to note that this means nearly 40% of caregivers fall short of this level. In addition, while 77.1% of caregivers demonstrate a positive attitude by scoring above 75%, 36.4% still exhibit poor practices, scoring below 60%. There is a significant positive correlation between knowledge and attitudes, but no significant relationship between practice scores and either knowledge or attitudes. A strong, statistically significant positive relationship exists between caregivers’ knowledge levels and both their educational attainment and the duration of the child’s diabetes. Conclusion: Our study supports previous research showing that higher parental education levels improve diabetes management outcomes in children. While most caregivers possess good knowledge and attitudes, many caregivers exhibit suboptimal practices. These findings indicate gaps in knowledge, skills, or confidence, especially in managing diabetes during sick days, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions to improve caregiver performance and child health outcomes.