Practice module training to increase pharmacist knowledge and skills in identifying drug therapy problems in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Background: Pharmacists are responsible for drug therapy given to patients to achieve therapeutic results in pharmaceutical services. Various studies state that there are still many hypertension sufferers who have not reached the target of therapy. This happens because there are still many problems with drug therapy. Aim: This study aimed to increase pharmacists' knowledge and skills in identifying drug therapy problems (DTP) in hypertensive patients at primary care centres (PHCs). Method: This study was attended by forty PHC pharmacists in the Surabaya area. The research was conducted in May-August 2020, with a pre-and post-test control group design. The research sample consisted of 20 pharmacists in the treatment group and 20 in the control group. The different test was carried out with the Wilcoxon test. Result: The results showed a difference between the pre-and post-test results of pharmacist knowledge (p < 0.05), indicating increased pharmacists’ knowledge. There were differences in the skills of pharmacists in collecting patient demographic data, finding DTP, and conducting intervention (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Practice module training can improve pharmacists’ knowledge and skills in identifying DTP.