ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Adrenal insufficiency (AI) represents a severe deficiency in the synthesis and release of cortisol and/or aldosterone. The prevalence of primary/secondary AI is estimated to be 20–50 per 100,000 individuals across Europe. However, data on its prevalence in Central Asia (CA) remains unknown. Kazakhstan is a geographically large CA country with a population of 20 million people. This contributes to the sparse distribution of specialized outpatient clinics, further complicated by variable standards of medical care. ESPE Caucasus & Central Asia School has been providing education and skills in pediatric endocrinology since 2014, resulting in the first practical implementation of an organized educational program for medical professionals and patients with AI in Kazakhstan.

Aim: To organize standardized systematic education in both Kazakh and Russian languages for healthcare providers/personnel, as well as families with patients with AI.

Methods: Medical professionals and support staff involved in the care of patients with AI were identified by sending requests to the healthcare authorities in all regions of Kazakhstan. Additionally, information about the project was shared via Facebook groups for families with children with AI. The European Emergency Card for patients with AI (EEC) was used to refine AI care standards and translated into Kazakh and Russian to aid in emergency response. Structured educational programs for healthcare professionals and individual treatment plans for patients were created to establish continuity of care across 17 Kazakhstan regions.

Results: 134 patients were identified, with information on age and gender available for 72 of them. Gender distribution: 43 (61%) were girls and 29 (41%) boys. Median age: 10.5 years (range: 1 to 18). The translated EEC, along with the structured educational program, was introduced to healthcare professionals working with patients with AI. Training commenced with informational meetings and medical conferences, where representatives from patient organizations were invited to provide their expertise. Individual treatment plan templates were also developed for patients with AI and adapted to the local healthcare infrastructure. All documents were prepared in both Kazakh and Russian.

Conclusion: By implementing an organized and standardized educational approach across all regions of Kazakhstan, the quality of patient care will be greatly improved. This approach ensures that every patient with AI, regardless of the clinic they visit or geographical barriers, receives consistent and high-quality medical care and education. Additionally, equipping healthcare professional with educational resources can enhance their understanding of AI treatment and patient care.