OBJECTIVE: To assess students' attitudes and confidence about type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetes self-management education before and after participation in Living With Diabetes Week simulation. DESIGN: Third-year pharmacy students took part in diabetes lectures, interactive laboratory sessions, and a week-long simulation of life as a patient with diabetes in the Clinical Assessment course. Pre-/postintervention survey instruments and experimental and control group comparisons were completed assessing attitudes and confidence relating to knowledge about diabetes. ASSESSMENT: The understanding that diabetes has a psychosocial impact, patient autonomy is necessary, and the seriousness of the disease increased. Students' confidence in their diabetes self-management education skills also increased. CONCLUSION: The Living With Diabetes Week simulation changed pharmacy students' attitudes toward patients with diabetes and increased confidence in diabetes education skills.
OBJECTIVE: To assess students' attitudes and confidence about type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetes self-management education before and after participation in Living With Diabetes Week simulation. DESIGN: Third-year pharmacy students took part in diabetes lectures, interactive laboratory sessions, and a week-long simulation of life as a patient with diabetes in the Clinical Assessment course. Pre-/postintervention survey instruments and experimental and control group comparisons were completed assessing attitudes and confidence relating to knowledge about diabetes. ASSESSMENT: The understanding that diabetes has a psychosocial impact, patient autonomy is necessary, and the seriousness of the disease increased. Students' confidence in their diabetes self-management education skills also increased. CONCLUSION: The Living With Diabetes Week simulation changed pharmacy students' attitudes toward patients with diabetes and increased confidence in diabetes education skills.