The impact of a type 2 diabetes, six-week immersion experience on adherence—A pilot study

ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of a type 2 diabetes immersion experience on students’ perception of adherence difficulty for medication utilization and self-monitoring. The secondary objective was to compare reported versus actual adherence.MethodsA fourth year pharmacy students were recruited to participate in a six-week immersion project. Students acted as newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients and were instructed to take a mock medication twice daily, self-monitor blood glucose twice daily, exercise three times weekly, and make one dietary intervention. A pre-participation survey determined student baseline perception of the ability to adhere to the disease state management. Following the experience, the students completed a post-participation survey regarding adherence difficulty perception and actual adherence rates were determined by data download from Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS™) caps and blood glucose monitoring devices.ResultOverall, 32 participants completed the study. Self-estimated ability to adhere to a twice-daily medication declined from 82.3% to 67.2% (p = 0.001). Adherence ability self-estimates for blood glucose monitoring decreased from 75.3% to 63.3% (p = 0.032). Self-reported adherence to the medication was 67.2% while actual adherence was 31.2% (p < 0.001). Actual adherence to blood glucose monitoring was 52.4% versus self-reported adherence of 63.3% (p = 0.001).ConclusionsStudents’ estimates of adherence ease declines following participation in the immersion project. True adherence evaluations indicate that student self-reporting of adherence rates are over-estimates.