Impact of educational intervention in evidence-based drug information in interprofessional practice at a tertiary-level care hospital

Abstract

Drug information management and interprofessional practice are essential abilities of healthcare professionals involved in prescribing, dispensing, and administering drugs. Achieving and maintaining a higher implementation of evidence-based drug information in interprofessional practice is a change management. A pre-post design was used to assess the impact of an educational intervention (online course) in the implementation of evidence-based drug information in interprofessional practice at Thumbay University Hospital, United Arab Emirates in 2021. Google Forms was used for data collection, before and after the intervention. The content of the survey form was validated by national and international experts. Statistical significance of any difference between pre- and post-course (immediate and after 6 months) surveys was calculated using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test. Kruskal Wallis test was used find differences among physicians, nurses, or pharmacists. The pre and post-course survey was completed by 9 doctors, 9 nurses, and 12 pharmacists. Internal consistency of the survey tool was high with Cronbach's alpha = 0.923. Based on the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, statistically significant responses occurred after completion of the course. No statistically significant improvements or decreases were observed after 6 months. Kruskal Wallis test showed no difference in implementation of evidence-based drug information among physicians, nurses, and pharmacists (p-value >0.05). The educational intervention was found to be impactful in implementing evidence-based drug information in interprofessional practice among the study population . Improvements in practice retained even after 6 months, though refresher educational events are required maintain or further improve the best practices.