(P318) Pharmacy Students’ Readiness and Self-efficacy to Offer the National Diabetes Prevention Program

Key Takeaways of Your Research: Pharmacy students can be trained to offer various activities related to the National Diabetes Prevention Program. family: Findings from this study indicated that many students in their first and second year had low levels of readiness and perceived self-efficacy to offer activities related to the National Diabetes Prevention Program. Most student pharmacists intend to offer the National Diabetes Prevention Program at their future practice site, however, the current training landscape may hinder implementation plans.

Background/Purpose: The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is an evidence-based lifestyle change program to delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Pharmacy students can be trained to offer various activities related to the National DPP. Research Hypothesis and/or Research Questions and Specific

Aims: This cross-sectional study assessed three objectives: 1) the training modalities in the PharmD curriculum that prepared pharmacy students to offer the National DPP, 2) pharmacy students' readiness and self-efficacy to offer services related to the National DPP; and 3) intent to offer the National DPP in their future practice sites. Methods/Methodology: Participants were first-year (PY1) and second-year (PY2) students. Survey items assessed perceived readiness and self-efficacy in three domains, 1) ability to promote awareness of prediabetes and the National DPP, 2) screen, test and refer to a National DPP site, 3) offer the National DPP. Survey response scale (1 = not at all to 5 = extremely). 62 students consented. Participants with previous training was 9.7% and training modalities were course lectures, practice sessions, and direct observation of supervising pharmacist. Participants’ readiness within the range of 107%; Range of "not at all ready to somewhat ready” for the three domains were; 1) promote awareness of prediabetes and the National DPP (80.7%); 2) screen, test and refer persons with prediabetes to a DPP site (83.8%); 3) offer the National DPP (82%). Similarly, participants perceived self-efficacy was low in the three domains [(domain 1 (83.8%), domain 2 (83.9%), and domain 3 (87.1 %)]. A high percentage of student pharmacists had intentions to offer the National DPP at their future practice sites (77.4%). Conclusions (Impact on Diabetes Care and Education): Findings suggest a need to address areas of perceived low self-efficacy and readiness to engage in activities related to the National DPP lifestyle change program. Pharmacists offer various preventive services; however, the perceived self-efficacy and readiness of pharmacy students may impact decision-making to implement clinical services like the National DPP in their future practice sites. Source of Funding for this Research: The authors did not receive any funding for this study.