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Purpose: This study assessed empathy scores before and after students were trained to use insulin pumps for 24 hours.
Methods: A diabetes-care module was introduced to PY2 students in pharmacy practice skills lab. The lecture covered the use of and insulin, pen devices and insulin pumps. Students were divided into two lab sections. Students in the first section were asked to wear insulin pumps filled with normal saline for 24 hours (n=24). Students were trained regarding pump initiation, common errors, and insulin administration. Students were sent blood glucose readings via text message and asked to record their response. After returning the pumps, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Student Version (JSE-HPS) was administered online. The second lab section, the control group (n=32) was given the JSE-HPS prior to lab, and participated in the same procedures for the insulin pump lab as the treatment group. The groups’ JSE-HPS scores were then compared. All students were asked to record their perceptions in a journal.
Results: The mean JSE-HPS score for the control group was 106.96 and 109.47 for the treatment group. Possible scores range from 20-140, with higher scores indicating higher empathy. A t-test comparing the difference in JSE-HPS means between the two groups was non-significant (p=0.46). Student perceptions recorded via journal entry were overwhelmingly positive including several mentions of increase ability to empathize with diabetic patients, particularly those using pumps.
Conclusions: Despite the lack of expected significance between the groups on empathy scores, student feedback of increased empathy indicates the importance of including training and personal use of insulin pumps in a skills lab curriculum.