Education the parents of children with malabsorption syndrome

Celiac disease, which is the most frequent cause of the malabsorption syndrome in children, is a common term for a worldwide occurring disease affecting both children and adults. It is a chronic disease characterized by a permanent gluten intolerance, malabsorption in consequence of typical inflammatory changes of the small intestine mucosa, and clinical improvement when a gluten-free diet is followed. The only casual treatment is a permanent and strict gluten-free diet.The objective of this thesis was to survey the knowledge of parents of children with the malabsorption syndrome. The other objective was to describe the role of a nurse in education of parents of children with the malabsorption syndrome. Two hypotheses were stated, one of them was confirmed, the other was rejected.One part of the thesis is formed by two research investigations aimed at finding the awareness of parents of children with celiac disease and also to assess how the knowledge and application of principles of an educational system have been implemented by nurses who take care of children with celiac disease and their parents.The survey was carried out by a quantitative research method. The data were collected by the anonymous questionnaire technique. The research set was comprised of parents of children with celiac disease and nurses working in paediatric and gastroenterology clinics.In the thesis two hypotheses had been set up, one of which was confirmed, the other was rejected.The first hypothesis assumed that parents of children with the malabsorption syndrome were informed about the nature of the disease and the need to follow a gluten-free diet. The results have shown that parents are sufficiently informed in these points, and therefore the hypothesis was confirmed.The other hypothesis assumed that nurses apply the principles of an educational process while providing information. But the research has shown that the vast majority of nurses do not know those principles and that is why they do not use them in practice. The hypothesis was not confirmed in this case.Enhancement through the use of educational principles in practice is recommended to improve the present care for children with a celiac disease and their parents. Nurses´ proficiency should be constantly boosted and deepened. The outcomes of this thesis can be presented at professional seminars and workshops in order to contribute to the improvement of this condition