Integrating Continuous Glucose Monitoring Into Pharmacy Elective Curriculum: A Practical Learning Experience

Abstract

Background: Pharmacists play a vital role in diabetes education, including continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). However, formal CGM training within pharmacy education remains limited. To address this, a CGM wear activity using the FreeStyle Libre 3 system was integrated into a third-year (P3) pharmacy elective. Objective: To evaluate how a week-long educational CGM wear experience affects P3 students’ knowledge and confidence in using CGMs and influences their empathy toward patients with diabetes. Methods: This was a prospective, single-center study. Students enrolled in the course attended a lecture on CGMs and were invited to wear a FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor for 1 week. During the sensor-wear period, students completed daily tasks simulating the management of a patient with diabetes. Preactivity and postactivity surveys were administered to evaluate changes in knowledge (9 items), confidence (5 items), and empathy (6 items) related to CGMs and diabetes care. Change in knowledge was assessed using a paired t test while change in confidence and empathy were assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Seventeen students participated in the wear experience, completed the presurvey and postsurvey, and were included in the analysis. Statistically significant increases were noted in the knowledge assessment scores (54.4% vs 70%, P < 0.005), all self-reported confidence items (P < 0.05), and 2 empathy items related to wearing the CGM sensor (P < 0.05). Students reported being woken up by the alarms as the biggest challenge. Conclusions: Following this week-long CGM wear activity, students demonstrated improved knowledge, confidence, and empathy related to CGMs and diabetes care.