Student College of Clinical Pharmacy (SCCP) Members Provide Student Driven Diabetes Education to Behavioral Health Care Case Managers

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a student led presentation concerning diabetes mellitus in mental health patients to improve patient care by case managers. The secondary outcome was to evaluate the case managers' response to student led diabetes mellitus educational session.

Methods: The Northeast Ohio Medical University Student College of Clinical Pharmacy (SCCP) membership partnered with Community Support Service Incorporated to deliver an educational presentation regarding the risks of diabetes mellitus in mental health patients.  Presentations were scheduled on multiple occasions in May of 2012 to accomodate differing case managers schedules.  The case managers were given a voluntary and anonymous survey that was used to assess various items including, but not limited to; pertinence of presented materials, level of comfort with student presenters, application of covered skills, and overall satisfaction of the educational sessions and student presenters.

Results: Descriptive statistics to be evaluated upon completion of the survey.

Conclusion: Pharmacy students have a great opportunity to educate local case managers on ways to improve care for mental health patients who are at an increased risk of acquiring diabetes mellitus.  These educational sessions were designed to increase the case managers awareness of risk factors and complications of diabetes in their patient population, thereby, allowing for improved patient care.  By using the survey tool and collecting information, we can assess the overall impact that pharmacy students can have indirectly on patient care.