DIABETES CARE AS AN ACTIVE LEARNING-MODEL OF POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR PHARMACEUTICAL CARE

A diabetes education program for community pharmacists was presented b y the University of California School of Pharmacy. Fifteen pharmacy ma nagers from a large pharmacy chain attended a two-day continuing educa tion course designed to prepare them to establish regional diabetes ca re centers and begin to provide pharmaceutical care. The participants lived as patients with diabetes by testing their blood glucose through the day, injecting normal saline in the place of insulin, and making meal choices using a food exchange system. They role-played in small g roups to learn about nonprescription recommendations, assessment of di abetes products, and counseling patients with diabetes. One year after attending the program the pharmacists reported a number of changes in their diabetes care-related pharmacy practice. The program was positi vely received by the pharmacists. Pharmacy continuing education course s utilizing active learning can provide effective postgraduate educati on and training which benefits pharmacists, patients, and pharmacies. Such programs can improve the skill level of pharmacists and transform their practice.