Effect of transfer with younger and older adults on control solution testing using two blood glucometers

Abstract

As of 2005, 5.5% of the American population had some form of diabetes, with an increasing rate of diagnosis. Adults 65 years of age and over are at an increased risk for developing diabetes. Sixty-four participants completed 10 trials of control solution testing. MANOVA results indicated main effects of participant age and order of glucometer use on dependent variables. Follow-up ANOVAs revealed a main effect of age on task time, errors during training, and near transfer errors, and a main effect of glucometer use on rate of near and far transfer errors committed. Results and avenues of further investigation are discussed.

The Usability of Blood Glucose Meters: Task Performance Differences Between Younger and Older Age Groups

“…Studies comparing older and younger participants on a variety of time-based tasks consistently demonstrate performance differences, as younger adults yield faster task times (Mykityshyn, Fisk, & Rogers, 2002;Rogers, & Fisk, 2010). The results of this study partially replicate the results of Carpenter and Mayhorn (2011) and Mayhorn and Carpenters (2012), which examined elements of performance of younger and older participants, who did not have diabetes, while completing a series of control solution tests. Younger participants finished the task 2.2 times faster than those in the older group.…”

“…The incorrect entry of the date and time is not inconsequential. When the wrong information is entered into a patient's meter, it can cause the patient and their practitioner to misinterpret blood glucose patterns rendering the meter readings largely meaningless (Carpenter, & Mayhorn, 2011). If the incorrect date/time goes unnoticed this could affect management as the practitioner could prescribe an inappropriate insulin regime based on incorrect patterns.…”