On the eve of the World Diabetes Day 2018, students from Gulf Medical University Colleges of Dentistry, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy collectively organized an inter-professional Community Engagement event on November 14, 2018. The main objective of the event was to create awareness and educate the public on diabetes and its complications, and to screen for cases of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus. The Clinical Preceptor Dr. Fithawit Bahran from the College of Pharmacy was the Lead coordinator of the event alongside coordinators from other participant colleges.
During his introductory remarks, Vice provost, Prof. Manda Venkatramana emphasized on the importance of inter-professional approach on tackling diabetes mellitus and congratulated the students on organizing such an event. The Vice Provost’s remark was followed by a ‘student presentation’ and an inter-professional ‘short skit’, both emphasizing on Background, Pathophysiology, Types, Treatment guidelines, and Possible complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
In continuation, the students exhibited nine stations, each station lead by a College and one or more participating students across different Colleges, all within the professional scope and practice of each health profession, and demonstrating inter-professional collaboration. All the stations were aligned to the objectives of the event and Students, under the mentorship of Faculty, assessed the Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, blood sugar of the visitors, and screened for risk factors for developing diabetes mellitus. In addition, students also assessed the knowledge and adherence to medications, physiotherapeutic managements and physical assessment for possible diabetic complications, and provided education if needed. Students also organized a ‘Puzzles session’ that focused on identifying symptoms, adverse drug reactions, categorizing healthy and unhealthy life styles, and held competitions on exercise-based activities. Altogether, over 200 visitors benefitted from the diabetes screening and other services offered by the students.
Following the theme of the World Diabetes Day-2018, “The family and Diabetes”, the stations included interactive activities to enlighten the visitors on the magnitude of diabetes in the region and to enhance their knowledge on prevention and management strategies.
Dr. Subish Palaian, Chair of the IPE committee at the College of Pharmacy commented: This event helped students across various health disciplines to collaborate and appreciate each other’s importance in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and its complications.