Service Learning Through Involvement of a Pharmacy College in a Community Diabetes Improvement Project

ABSTRACT Pharmacy practice faculty and students from Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences participated in a community diabetes screening, referral, and education project funded by the Wellmark Foundation. The purpose of the project was to improve diabetes health in an urban community in the 50317 zip code area, which has a high prevalence of diabetes within Des Moines, Iowa. Visiting Nurse Services (VNS) coordinated and organized the screenings. Pharmacy students participated in the screenings as part of a service learning assignment for their Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE). Pharmacy faculty participated in the planning task force, developed the data collection tool, coordinated student participation in the screenings, and analyzed the data (entered by a pharmacy student). The VNS tested approximately 5,000 people at approximately 100 screenings from October 1999 to June 2000. One hundred twenty-two pharmacy students participated in the screenings and had many positive reflections on the experience. This project demonstrates a valuable service learning experience and a successful collaboration of pharmacy school students and faculty in a community diabetes health improvement initiative.