ABSTRACT
One of the facilities beneficial lo adaptation and coping with diabetic life-style is summer camps, especially for diabetic children and adolescents. There are some observational studies suggesting [hat the camps have positive effects on the psychology and well-being of diabetic children, but none of them includes detailed Standard assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of summer camps on the psychological state of children. For this purpose the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ)was used. A total of 65 children and adolescents (age 15.8±1.8 yrs) with type 1 diabetes were included in the study (Group 2). When DTSQ scores of the camp group were compared with the control group, (Group 1, n:40, age 16.1±2.0 yrs), the scores were found higher (p=0.016). Group 2 was further divided into two groups the first including those who attended the camp once (Group 2a, n:40) and the other at least two times (Group 2b, n:25). There was no difference in the DTSQ scores between Group 1 and Group 2a (p=0.125). On the other hand the scores of Group 2b were higher than those of Group 1 (p=0.005). So, the difference arose from repeated attendance of the camps. As a result, the camps have positive effects on the DTSQ scores of diabetic children when the attendance is more than once.
One of the facilities beneficial lo adaptation and coping with diabetic life-style is summer camps, especially for diabetic children and adolescents. There are some observational studies suggesting [hat the camps have positive effects on the psychology and well-being of diabetic children, but none of them includes detailed Standard assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of summer camps on the psychological state of children. For this purpose the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ)was used. A total of 65 children and adolescents (age 15.8±1.8 yrs) with type 1 diabetes were included in the study (Group 2). When DTSQ scores of the camp group were compared with the control group, (Group 1, n:40, age 16.1±2.0 yrs), the scores were found higher (p=0.016). Group 2 was further divided into two groups the first including those who attended the camp once (Group 2a, n:40) and the other at least two times (Group 2b, n:25). There was no difference in the DTSQ scores between Group 1 and Group 2a (p=0.125). On the other hand the scores of Group 2b were higher than those of Group 1 (p=0.005). So, the difference arose from repeated attendance of the camps. As a result, the camps have positive effects on the DTSQ scores of diabetic children when the attendance is more than once.