Registered nurses’ knowledge of medical care for older adults with diabetes in long-term care facilities in Taiwan

Background: One in every three older adults who lives in a long-term-care facility in Taiwan has diabetes. Thus, examination of diabetes management for older adults in long-term-care facilities is warranted. Aims: We investigated the current diabetes management for older adults, nurses’ knowledge of diabetes care, and the factors associated with nurses’ knowledge of diabetes care for older adults in long-term care facilities. Method: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted from July to December 2015. A questionnaire about nurses’ knowledge was developed, and then descriptive statistics and a multiple linear regression were used. Findings: A total of 41 nurses (82% response rate) from five long-term-care facilities were enrolled. In total, 70.7% of nurses had experience transferring older adults with diabetes who live in long-term-care facilities to an emergency department. The most common reasons were hyperglycemia (n = 18, 62.0%), followed by hypoglycemia (n = 21, 72.4%). Nevertheless, items on the symptoms of ketoacidosis identification (9.8%) had the lowest correct answer rate, and nearly half (48.8%) of the nurses incorrectly answered a question about the value of glycated hemoglobin A1C for older adults. Diabetes education (β = 0.528, p = 0.007) was the only statistically significant factor that contributed to nurses’ knowledge of diabetes management for older adults. Conclusions: These study findings provide an initial basis for considering the development of diabetes management protocols, including nurses’ continuing education, for older adults in long-term-care facilities.