# Medical education on hospital hyperglycemia improving knowledge and outcomes

## TL;DR

Medical education on hospital hyperglycemia improved doctors' knowledge and patient outcomes, with benefits lasting up to six months.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that targeted education improves knowledge and reduces adverse outcomes related to hospital hyperglycemia.

## Key findings

- Medical knowledge scores increased significantly after the intervention and remained stable after six months.
- The proportion of patients without blood glucose assessments during hospitalization dropped from 12.6% to 2.6%.
- Hospital hypoglycemia rates were significantly reduced following the education program.

## Abstract

To evaluate the effects of medical education on hospital hyperglycemia on physician's technical knowledge and the quality of medical prescriptions, patient care, and clinical outcomes.

The intervention included online classes and practical consultations provided by an endocrinologist to medical preceptors and residents of the Department of Internal Medicine. A pretest and a post-test (0 to 10 points) were applied before and after the intervention and patients medical records were reviewed before and after the intervention. The outcomes were improvement in medical knowledge, in the quality of prescriptions for patients in the clinical area, and clinical outcomes.

The global mean of correct answers improved with the intervention [before: 6.9 points (±1.7) versus after the intervention: 8.8 points (±1.5) (p < 0.001)]. The number of patients who did not have at least one blood glucose assessment during the entire hospitalization for acute illness decreased from 12.6% before to 2.6% (p < 0.001) after the intervention. There was also a significant reduction in hospital hypoglycemia rates (p < 0.026). The use of sliding-scale insulin as the main treatment was quite low before and after the intervention (2.2% and 0%). After 6 months, medical knowledge did not show significant reduction.

Medical education on hospital hyperglycemia can improve medical knowledge and clinical outcomes for patients. The improvement in medical knowledge was maintained after 6 months.