Implementing a choose your own adventure activity to improve insulin decision making

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Medical Simulation
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Insulin management is a critical skill for pharmacists.
• Traditional educational methods may not fully engage students in complex clinical decision-making.
• Simulated learning environments offer a safe space for skill development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a virtual Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) activity on pharmacy students' knowledge and confidence in insulin management.
• To assess student satisfaction with the CYOA learning tool.

Main Methods:

• An online CYOA activity was developed using TypeForm for a third-year pharmacy diabetes elective.
• Students made critical decisions regarding insulin initiation, counseling, conversions, and titration in simulated patient cases.
• Pre- and post-activity surveys assessed knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Average insulin knowledge quiz scores improved significantly from 46% to 68% (P = .02).
• Student confidence in insulin management aspects increased significantly (P < .001).
• High satisfaction scores were reported, with no differences between in-person and virtual classroom delivery.

Conclusions:

• Virtual CYOA activities are effective educational tools in pharmacy classrooms, adaptable to both in-person and virtual settings.
• Students found the CYOA activity enjoyable and beneficial for increasing decision-making confidence.
• While knowledge improvements were observed, further research is needed to validate assessments and ensure sustained learning.