Abstract :
With the trend of global diabetes projected to increase by 2 to 3-fold in future decades, the need to improve diabetes care is more crucial now than ever. The use of a glucose monitor to assess patient’s blood glucose values has been shown to significantly improve the clinical outcomes and is less costly than laboratory monitoring. Currently there are no studies assessing the knowledge of glucose monitor use among pharmacy students in Nigeria. To assess the knowledge, technique, and confidence of glucose monitor use among pharmacy students in Nigeria, before and after a glucose monitor training workshop led by a team of fourth year pharmacy students from the United States. A 16-question pre-and post-survey was used to assess pharmacy students’ at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Pharmacy School (NAU) knowledge and perceived comfort level following a glucose monitor training workshop delivered by pharmacy students from a United States pharmacy school. The program contained both didactic and practice active learning techniques. Of the 153 students who participated in the study, 135 (88%) completed both the pre- and post-test surveys. The training significantly improved students' confidence, increasing those who felt "very comfortable" performing a fingerstick test from 18% to 74% and those comfortable teaching glucometers use from 29% to 83%. This interactive glucose monitor training workshop positively impacted NAU pharmacy students’ knowledge and confidence in performing glucose monitoring and teaching patients.
