Assessment of insulin pen injection practices and the effectiveness of pharmacist interventions in improving injection technique among patients with diabetes mellitus

Background

Insulin therapy is crucial for Type 1 and advanced Type 2 diabetes management. Despite the convenience of insulin pens, improper use persists due to limited patient education. Pharmacists' expertise in counseling and medication safety uniquely positions them to address these gaps through individualized guidance on use, adherence, and monitoring.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led interventions on improving insulin injection practices among diabetes patients.

Methods

A pre–post interventional study was conducted at Dhulikhel Hospital (April–September 2018) among 81 consecutively enrolled insulin pen users (≥12 years; on pens ≥2 weeks) from inpatient and outpatient wards. Patients underwent baseline assessment of 16 injection technique elements, received one-to-one pharmacist-led training with demonstration, and were reassessed immediately and after 2 weeks. The primary outcome was the total technique score (0–16), analyzed using Friedman's test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

Cold chain maintenance was suboptimal, with 51.9 % of patients transporting insulin cartridges without an icepack. Unsafe needle disposal was common, with 40.7 % discarding needles in municipal vehicles, 13.6 % in bushes, and 4.9 % in rivers. Pharmacist-led interventions significantly improved all practices (p < 0.05). Proper cartridge storage increased from 77.8 % pre-intervention to 91.4 % post-intervention and 88.6 % at two weeks. Correct room temperature pen storage rose from 49.4 % to 95.1 % post-intervention, declining slightly to 70.8 % at two weeks. Correct insulin mixing surged from 7.8 % to 100 % post-intervention, remaining at 81.1 % at two weeks. Injection technique scores significantly improved (median pre = 10, post = 15) and were largely sustained (median two-weeks = 14).

Conclusion

Pharmacist-led education significantly improved insulin injection techniques. Integrating pharmacists into routine diabetes care and reinforcing education is essential to sustain these improvements. These findings underscore that clinical pharmacy interventions make a tangible difference in improving healthcare outcomes.