In-hospital survival skills training for type 1 diabetes: perceptions of children and parents.

Purpose: When a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, parents and/or children must gain significant knowledge and learn specific skills to maintain health. Children in the United States who experience diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at the time of diagnosis typically spend 3 days in the hospital learning these life-saving skills. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge concerning children's and parents' perceptions of this hospitalization period and of the initial education and support received from nurses.