Know your diabetes risk project: Student pharmacists educating adults about diabetes risk in a community pharmacy setting.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the feasibility of educating adults about their risk of prediabetes/diabetes in a community pharmacy, to determine the common risk factors for prediabetes/diabetes in adults visiting a community pharmacy, and to assess any association between risk factors and age.


METHODS
Cross sectional.


METHODS
Oklahoma community pharmacies between April 1 and December 31, 2008.


METHODS
1,852 patients aged 18 to 80 years.


METHODS
Student pharmacists invited adults to complete a survey to assess their risk for diabetes/prediabetes. Students reviewed participants' risk and educated them on lifestyle changes to lower diabetes risk.


METHODS
Patient risk factors, pharmacy identifier, and pharmacy type (independent, chain, or clinic pharmacy) and location (rural, suburban, or city).


RESULTS
Diabetes risk assessment and education of 1,852 adults was performed by 110 student pharmacists in 52 community pharmacies located in 27 cities across 13 (of 77) Oklahoma counties. Obesity/overweight was the most common risk factor (57%), with positive family history, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, member of high-risk ethnic group, and sedentary lifestyle being reported by at least 20% of participants. The number of risk factors increased with age, with a significant increase occurring in participants older than 40 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
This project demonstrated that it is feasible to perform diabetes risk assessment and to provide education on lowering that risk through community pharmacies.
Letassy
Nancy
N
Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA. nancy-letassy@ouhsc.edu
Dennis
Vincent
V
Lyons
Timothy J
TJ
Harrison
Don
D
Burton
Michael
M
Kirkpatrick
Alice
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009825:Oklahoma; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult