Knowledge on Inpatient Diabetes Among Fourth-Year Medical Students
- M. Cecilia Lansang, MD, MPH and
- Heather Harrell, MD
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to M. Cecilia Lansang, MD, Division of Endocrinology, University of Florida, Health Science Center, Box 100226, Gainesville, FL 32610-0226. E-mail: lansamc{at}medicine.ufl.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE—The importance of proper management of inpatient hyperglycemia is increasingly being recognized. However, the curriculum for 4th-year medical students has lagged behind current clinical recommendations. The aim of this study was to assess the baseline knowledge of medical subinterns on inpatient diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—In the 2005–2006 school year, subinterns were given a pretest on inpatient diabetes. Descriptive analysis was used.
RESULTS—Students frequently recommended the sole use of sliding scale for diabetes management. Hyperglycemia in patients not known to have diabetes is less likely to be recognized. The students were more likely to provide appropriate management for chest pain than diabetes. Students were otherwise knowledgable about the recognition of type of diabetes and the pharmacology of the medications.
CONCLUSIONS—This study demonstrates the gaps in knowledge about inpatient diabetes that exist before internship and residency. The findings can be used to design a curriculum appropriately targeted to the level of 4th-year medical students.
Footnotes
-
Published ahead of print at http://care.diabetesjournals.org on 26 February 2007. DOI: 10.2337/dc06-2174.
A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
-
- Accepted February 12, 2007.
- Received October 21, 2006.
- DIABETES CARE
