Comparison of Ease of Use and Acceptability of Intranasal and Injectable Glucagon Among Providers Administering it to Children or Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes (BETTER-ING)

Background : The benefits of good glycemic control are clearly established. However, achieving glycemic targets comes at the expense of the risk of hypoglycemia. Repeated episodes of severe hypoglycemia can affect long-term cognitive function, especially in developing brains. Fear of hypoglycemia, both in children and their parents, has an impact on participation in physical activity, quality of life and optimal diabetes control. During an episode of severe hypoglycemia, i.e., when accompanied by severe cognitive dysfunction requiring assistance from others, it is impossible to administer oral glucose. Glucagon administration is particularly useful in this situation, as it rapidly raises blood glucose levels and restores consciousness. Injectable glucagon was the only form approved in Canada prior to 2019. A new formulation of glucagon for intranasal administration has recently been approved by Health Canada. The arrival of this formulation seems promising because of its ease of use while ensuring similar efficacy to injectable glucagon. Furthermore, the ease of learning how to use each of the devices through a simple multimedia tool is unknown. Indeed, current studies have not focused on a virtual teaching method. The latter is of particular interest in the context of a pandemic and in order to make information more accessible to a broader population that may not be present at family glucagon education (e.g., school-based caregivers).

Objective : Compare the performance (time to prepare and administer, success rate) of the intranasal versus injectable glucagon administration procedure after a short video training 3 months earlier among parents/primary caregivers and school workers who may administer glucagon to children with type 1 diabetes.

Secondary objectives :

1. To assess stakeholder administration procedure preferences for the two glucagon formulations in the two groups ; 2. To explore the barriers and emotional impact (fears, perceptions, stress, etc.) related to the use of intranasal and injectable glucagon in both groups; 3. Explore the participants' preferences in relation to the teaching method of administering the two forms of glucagon.