The College of Pharmacy discussed the MSc thesis entitled “Assessment of Factors Affecting Adherence, Knowledge, and Practices towards Insulin Self-Administration among Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus” by Ruqayah Kareem Jabber and the supervisor, Lecturer Dr. Mohammed Yawaz Jamal in the Clinical Pharmacy Department. The study aimed to assess the factors affecting adherence, knowledge, and practices towards insulin self-administration among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Interviews with patient caregivers (children and adolescents) were done at the Diabetes and Endocrine Centre in Nasiriya city. The study included 180 children and adolescents with T1DM. They experienced T1DM for 6.24± (3.70) years on average. The results showed weak adherence to insulin self-injecting among children and adolescents with type I diabetes. The study also showed low levels of knowledge of diabetes and poor practices in insulin self-injecting, and that the majority of patients and caregivers never or rarely adjust the insulin dose according to the level of food, exercise, and glucose in their blood. Through the findings of the study, the importance of increasing awareness and education programs on the need for proper use of insulin as well as enhancing cooperation among health care providers was emphasized.
