Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2440/6427
Type: Journal article
Title: A qualitative evaluation of the short and longer-term influences of a diabetes simulation upon medical undergraduates' attitudes
Author: Chur-Hansen, A.
Vernon-Roberts, J.
Liston, M.
Green, L.
Harding, P.
Citation: Focus on Health Professional Education, 2001; 3(1):52-58
Publisher: Australasian and New Zealand Association for Medical Education
Issue Date: 2001
ISSN: 1442-1100
Statement of
Responsibility: 
A. Chur-Hansen, J. Vernon-Roberts, M. Liston, L. Green and P. Harding
Abstract: This study aimed to assess whether medical students' attitudes towards, and awareness about diabetes are influenced by a diabetes lifestyle simulation exercise, and whether any change might be long term. Eighty- one third year medical students undertook a two day exercise in which they monitored their blood glucose level (BGL), gave dummy injections of insulin and had to make responses to hypothetical scenarios of disordered diabetes control. Students recorded their subjective impressions in a persona journal. Three years later, a sample of these students was interviewed about the perceived impact of the exercise on their subsequent training and possible implications for future clinical practice. Content analysis of students' journals showed that their comments fell into five main themes; an understanding of the difficulty or otherwise with diet, blood glucose level monitoring, routine, and injecting insulin, and awareness of the impact of diabetes on life. Content analysis of interviews revealed that in the long-term students considered the simulation as useful in maintaining an awareness of what it might be like to have diabetes. Whilst the simulation was seen to increase empathy for patients, a lack of clinical experience and patient contact, or conversely, previous knowledge and contact with people with diabetes, lessened the impact of the exercise. The qualitative data collected for this study demonstrates that a brief simulation increases students' empathic attitudes and awareness about what it is like to live with a chronic illness, and students report that in the longer-term this change is maintained. Thus, consideration should be given to incorporation of such simulation exercises in all medical undergraduate programs, although the simulation should occur when students have patient contact.
Keywords: Medical students
Diabetes
Simulation
Student attitudes
Attitude change
Influences
Program effectiveness
Chronic illness
Rights: © Australasian and New Zealand Association for Medical Education
Appears in Collections:Aurora harvest 5
Psychiatry publications

Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.