The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of using human patient simulation (HPS) to teach Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) management to grandparents of grandchildren with T1DM. Thirty grandparents (11 male, 19 female) of young grandchildren (aged 12 and under) with T1DM were recruited from an urban medical center. Experimental group (n = 14) grandparents received hands-on visual T1DM management education using an HPS intervention, and control group (n = 16) grandparents received similar education using a non-HPS intervention.

Post-intervention, researchers interviewed twelve grandparents (50% HPS, 50% non-HPS) who scored highest and lowest on the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey. Using a mixed-method design, researchers integrated study instrument data and post-intervention interview data to describe grandparent’s experience learning T1DM management. Post-intervention, grandparent scores for knowledge, confidence, and fear showed no significant difference by group assignment, however, all grandparent scores showed improvement from Time 1 to Time 2. Grandparents described how taking part in T1DM education heightened their awareness of T1DM risks. GP T1DM knowledge gains aided GPs to make sense of T1DM risks. Newfound T1DM knowledge enhanced GP T1DM management confidence. Improved T1DM knowledge and confidence helped to defuse T1DM management fear. Although study instruments did not measure significant difference between grandparents who received the HPS intervention and those who did not, the consistency of larger HPS-taught grandparent score improvement is suggestive of a benefit for HPS.