Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42018005›Full record

ReviewMedical education online2026

Active learning in diabetes education for health professions students: a narrative synthesis of effectiveness and implementation considerations.

Hui Zhou, Nie Tang, Limei Liu, Ying Zhu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Medical education online, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Hui ZhouDepartment of Endocrinology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Nie TangDepartment of Endocrinology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Limei LiuDepartment of Endocrinology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Ying ZhuDepartment of Endocrinology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0004-2167-6429

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDiabetes is a growing global health burden, requiring future health professionals to develop strong knowledge, clinical reasoning, and patient education skills. Active learning approaches, such as simulation, flipped classrooms, and gamification, are increasingly used to strengthen diabetes education, yet evidence remains fragmented.

objectiveTo synthesize recent evidence on the effectiveness and implementation of active learning strategies in diabetes education for pre-licensure health professions students.

methodsWe conducted a structured narrative review of peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and pre-post designs evaluating active learning interventions in pre-licensure medical, nursing, or pharmacy programs. Outcomes included knowledge, skills, confidence, engagement, and satisfaction. Study quality was appraised using MERSQI.

resultsTwenty studies met inclusion criteria (10 RCTs, 3 quasi-experimental, 7 pre-post). Simulation and gamification demonstrated the most consistent improvements in knowledge, skills, and learner engagement. Flipped classroom results were mixed, with effectiveness dependent on learner preparation and integration with experiential components. Technology-enhanced experiential approaches showed promise but faced scalability and resource challenges. Implementation factors including faculty time, infrastructure, and equity considerations substantially influenced outcomes.

conclusionsActive learning strategies enhance diabetes education for health professions students, with simulation and gamification showing the strongest evidence of effectiveness. However, sustainability and scalability remain limited by resource intensity and variable learner preparation. Future research should address long-term knowledge retention, equity across contexts, and cost-effectiveness to guide broader adoption.

Indexed as

Diabetes MellitusProblem-Based LearningStudents, Health OccupationsClinical CompetenceHumansDiabeteslearningnarrative synthesisnursingstudents

Identifiers

PMID42018005
PMCPMC13103985

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.