NASAL VERSUS INJECTED GLUCAGON ADMINISTRATION: EVALUATING OVERALL WORKLOAD IN A SIMULATED SEVERE HYPOGLYCEMIA RESCUE
- Christopher J. Child, United States of America
- Julie Settles, United States of America
- Erik Spaepen, United States of America
- Ankit Turakhiya, India
- Christopher J. Child, United States of America
Abstract
Background and Aims
Injectable glucagon (IG) is challenging to use for caregivers of a person with diabetes (PWD) during severe hypoglycaemia (SH) rescue. We assessed overall workload for the administration of nasal glucagon (NG) and IG using National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaires, during a randomized, crossover, SH simulation study.
Methods
Adult PWDs (N=33) were trained to use NG or IG and then trained their caregiver (1 hour later) in its use; 1 week later caregivers attempted administration to a manikin exhibiting SH in a simulated real life setting. Untrained adults (N=33; no PWD association) were shown the device pre-simulation. After 1 week the process was repeated with the other device. After each simulation, users completed the NASA-TLX questionnaire assessing overall workload on 6 subscales, each rated on a scale of 0 to 20 (higher scores indicating greater workload). Participants also evaluated the weighting of each subscale to the overall workload of the task through pairwise comparisons of the 6 subscales (15 pairs in total; weights ranging from 0=not relevant to 5=most important).
Results
Users reported a mean overall workload score of 37.8 following NG simulation, compared with 48.4 following IG simulation (p=0.0020; weighted average). A similar trend was observed for a mean regular average (p=0.0025). Users reported lesser mental demand (p=0.0048, weighted score difference) and effort (p=0.0240) for the administration of NG, compared with IG (Table).
Conclusions
Users perceived a lesser workload administering NG, compared with IG, during simulated SH rescue.
