Continuing Pharmacy Education Research Articles

Continuing pharmacy education practices in geriatric care among pharmacists in the Upper Midwest

ObjectivesTo summarize select continuing pharmacy education (CPE) topics and hours related to geriatric care completed by community, hospital/clinic, and long-term care (LTC)/consultant pharmacists in the previous 12 months, whether pharmacy workplace influenced topic selection or completion, and to describe CPE sources used by community versus hospital/clinic pharmacists. DesignCross-sectional survey (2017). Setting and participantsLicensed pharmacists in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska with primary practice settings in community pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics or those practicing as consultant pharmacists. Main outcome measuresCPE on geriatric-related topics and hours completed in the previous 12 months, CPE providers and sources used, and differences in CPE topic completion and CPE providers and sources by primary pharmacy practice setting. ResultsPharmacists’ response rates for states ranged from 10.5% to 17.1%. Pharmacists (n = 1082) reported limited completion of geriatric-related topics. Almost one-third completed CPE credit in Alzheimer disease (AD) but fewer than 20% of pharmacists in selected age-related chronic diseases (e.g., Parkinson disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, epilepsy, vascular dementia, geriatric syndrome). LTC/consultant pharmacists completed significantly more hours in geriatric-related topics compared with other pharmacists. In contrast, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, asthma, and heart failure were completed by 34% to 64% of the pharmacists. Pharmacist’s Letter (57.2%), Power-Pak CE (42.4%), conferences, conventions, and symposia (32.5%), and Pharmacy Times (21.8%), were the most used CPE sources. Other sources were used by fewer than 18% of the pharmacists. Online CPE providers used by high numbers of study participants offered limited AD- or dementia-related topics and hours. ConclusionFindings revealed modest to minimal CPE completion in select geriatric care topics among pharmacists in the Upper Midwest. Completion rates were higher for LTC pharmacists compared with hospital, clinic, and community pharmacists. Only a few CPE sources were heavily used, and those offered minimal CPE in AD/dementia-related care. Given current findings and previous research, current CPE use habits and CPE offerings from major providers and sources seem insufficient for ensuring continued high-quality patient-centered care for growing U.S. aging populations.

Impact of Continuing Pharmacy Education on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Community Pharmacists about ADR Monitoring and Reporting

The present study was aimed to train the community pharmacists in pharmacovigilance and implement adverse drug reaction monitoring and reporting program in their practice. Continuing pharmacy education programs about adverse drug reaction monitoring and reporting were conducted periodically to the community pharmacists both in the study centre and respective pharmacies and their knowledge, attitude, practice were assessed both prior and post education program through a self-administered questionnaire. The participants were followed-up after 6 months to assess the changes if any in their practice. Pharmacists’ awareness about the concept of adverse drug reaction reporting, which form to use for reporting adverse drug reactions, how and where to report adverse drug reactions have significantly increased (p<0.05) to 100 % in the post continuing pharmacy education survey from 84, 45, 51 and 36 % during pre continuing pharmacy education survey, respectively. The knowledge about all the stakeholders of health such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses and patients to report adverse drug reactions also increased from 31 to 100 % (p<0.05) from pre continuing pharmacy education to post test. In the post continuing pharmacy education survey, 100 % of the respondents agreed that reporting adverse drug reactions is necessary. Majority of respondents (72.7 %) strongly agreed that adverse drug reactions reporting is a part of professional role. In the repeat survey conducted after 6 months, 11 % of respondents reported that they have a system of monitoring and reporting adverse drug reactions in their pharmacies in comparison to 0 % at the baseline, which was prior to continuing pharmacy education program and adverse drug reactions from 25 patients were reported to pharmacovigilance program of India by these pharmacists through the investigators of this study. The continuing pharmacy education program resulted in improvement of knowledge, attitude and practice of monitoring and reporting adverse drug reaction among community pharmacists as well as implementation of adverse drug reaction monitoring services in selected community pharmacies in the study region.

Simulation for Continuing Pharmacy Education: Development and Implementation of a Simulation-Based Workshop on Medicines Reconciliation for Pharmacists.

Simulation has been increasingly used to train health care professionals on clinical skills. Little is published on simulation-based education in the context of continuing pharmacy education (CPE) of pharmacists. This article describes the development implementation and evaluation of simulation-based workshop to train hospital pharmacists on medicines reconciliation in Kuwait. The study aimed to explore pharmacists' perceptions about simulation use in CPE. It also assessed the impact of the workshops on pharmacists' attitudes toward, knowledge, and comfort level to apply medicines reconciliation. One hundred ten pharmacists attended 11 simulation-based workshops. Data were collected using focus groups and self-administered surveys in a mixed-method research design. Focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for content. Descriptive statistics were used to report surveys' findings. The workshops were well-received by pharmacists. Few pharmacists recalled previous exposure to simulation in CPE activities. Pharmacists' perceived challenges to simulation integration into their professional training were the need for good preparation/setting, qualified faculty, well-trained simulated patients, and time constrains. Participants felt that simulation enhanced their attitudes toward, knowledge, and comfort level to apply medicines reconciliation. They rated their knowledge level as having increased by 62.3% and comfort level as having increased by 37.0%. They overwhelmingly welcomed more integration of simulation in CPE activities. A simulation-based continuing education workshop was well-received by pharmacists and enhanced their self-reported knowledge, comfort level, and preparedness to apply medicines reconciliation. Efforts are needed to expand simulation use in the development, refinement, and maintenance of clinical skills of pharmacists throughout their educational continuum including CPE.

The Benefit of Continuing Professional Development for Continuing Pharmacy Education

The Benefit of Continuing Professional Development for Continuing Pharmacy Education

Perception of Community Pharmacy Personnel towards Patient Counseling and Continuing Pharmacy Education Programs in Aden, Yemen

Perception of Community Pharmacy Personnel towards Patient Counseling and Continuing Pharmacy Education Programs in Aden, Yemen

Forty Years of ACPE CPE Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) Provider Accreditation Program has been in existence for 40 years. During this time, the program has expanded and has been offered to a various types of providers, not only academic-based providers. ACPE credit has been offered to an increasing number of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other health professionals. This paper explains the evolution of the CPE Provider Accreditation Program, including the Definition of Continuing Education for the Profession of Pharmacy, its standards, types of activities (knowledge, application, and practice), CPE Monitor, Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Are advanced practice pharmacist designations really advanced?

Four states have created advanced practice pharmacist designations in state law: advanced practice pharmacist (California), clinical pharmacist practitioner (Montana and North Carolina), and pharmacist clinician (New Mexico). To attain an advanced pharmacist designation, states typically require a fee and set a minimum education requirement either through continuing pharmacy education (CPE) or through attainment of a national certification or completion of a residency. Once attained, pharmacists may practice with additional scope of practice authorities, namely the ability to order and interpret drug therapy-related tests, and initiate or adjust/modify medications under a collaborative practice agreement (CPA). Uptake of advanced practice pharmacist designations has been light (range: 0.35%-9.8%). The additional scope of practice authority is on par with, and in some instances more restrictive than, other states with fewer barriers to entry. As such, the excitement surrounding advanced pharmacist designations may be disproportionate to the actual scope of practice gains when compared to other existing state laws.

Paying for Cures: How Can We Afford It? Managed Care Pharmacy Stakeholder Perceptions of Policy Options to Address Affordability of Prescription Drugs.

High-priced medications with curative potential, such as the newer hepatitis C therapies, have contributed to the recent growth in pharmaceutical expenditure. Despite the obvious benefits, health care decision makers are just beginning to grapple with questions of how to value and pay for curative therapies that may feature large upfront cost, followed by health benefits that are reaped over a patient's lifespan. Alternative policy options have been proposed to promote high value and financially sustainable use of these therapies. It is unclear which policy options would be most acceptable to health care payer and biomedical manufacturer stakeholders. To (a) briefly review pharmaceutical policy options to address health system affordability and (b) assess the acceptability of alternative policy options to health care payers and biomedical manufacturers before and after an Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) continuing pharmacy education (CPE) session. We searched MEDLINE and Cochran databases for pharmaceutical policy options addressing affordability. With input from a focus group of managed care professionals, we developed CPE session content and an 8-question survey focusing on the most promising policy options. We fielded the survey before and after the CPE session, which occurred as part of the 2016 AMCP Annual Meeting. We first conducted a chi-squared goodness-of-fit test to assess response distributions. Next, we tested how responses differed before and after by using an ordered logit and a multinomial logit to model Likert scale and unordered responses, respectively. Although risk-sharing payments over time remained the most favorable choice before (37%) and after (35%) the CPE session, this choice was closely followed by HealthCoin after the session, which increased in favorability from 4% to 33% of responses (P = 0.001). About half of the respondents (54%) indicated that legislative change is the most significant barrier to the implementation of any policy. As high-cost curative drugs reach the market, managed care stakeholders need information from a balanced education source regarding alternative policies to address affordability. We found that after the AMCP CPE session, risk-sharing payments over time and HealthCoin were the most favorable options. No funding was provided for this research. Carlson reports consulting fees from Genentech, Pfizer, and Seattle Genetics. The other authors have nothing to disclose. Study concept and design were contributed by Yeung, Garrison, and Carlson. Yeung collected the data, which were interpreted by Yeung and Basu. The manuscript was written by Yeung, Suh, and Bansal and revised by Yeung. A portion of this research was presented at the Academy of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy Annual Meeting as a continuing education session entitled "Paying for Cures: How Can We Afford It?" on April 20, 2016, in San Francisco, California.

Opinion of hospital pharmacy practitioners toward the Continuing Pharmacy Education program: a study from a tertiary care hospital in central Nepal.

BackgroundMeeting participants’ needs and matching their preferences are important prerequisites for an effective Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) program. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the opinion of hospital pharmacy practitioners with respect to the CPE program.MethodsThe pretested questionnaires were distributed to 20 pharmacy practitioners working in a pharmacy at a tertiary care hospital in Nepal which asked for their opinions and suggestions with respect to the CPE program. Descriptive statistics were performed using IBM SPSS version 20.ResultsTopics related to skills development (75%) and recent innovations in pharmacy practice (65%) were mostly preferred. Live (in-person) presentations (80%) and small group discussion (60%) were the most suitable methods for delivery. Improving knowledge (75%), improving skills (60%) and keeping up-to-date in the latest information (60%) were major motivating factors to participate, while lack of time (75%) was a major barrier. Approximately 55% of the participants believed that face-to-face interview was a suitable method for evaluating the effectiveness. Allocation of separate time for the program, assessing baseline knowledge and skills of the participants along with delivery of quality materials in an understandable way were the top common suggestions for improving the CPE program.ConclusionHospital pharmacy practitioners’ opinions and suggestions were assessed with respect to the CPE program and this was upgraded accordingly to meet their expectations.

Development and evaluation of a continuing pharmacy education (CPE) program in thrombosis management

Background and purposeA continuing education (CE) course in thrombosis management for pharmacists was developed through the Office of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) at the University of Toronto to address pharmacists' needs for the knowledge and skills to provide care to patients receiving anticoagulants. This article describes the development of the course as well as the evaluation designed to assess its impact on pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and changes in practice. Educational activity and settingA three-day course was developed. Outcomes were evaluated using a feedback questionnaire, pre- and post-session quizzes and semi-structured interviews conducted six months after course completion. Participant satisfaction, knowledge acquisition and perceived change in knowledge, skills and practice were evaluated. FindingsThirty-seven pharmacists enrolled in the program, 21 of whom participated in a semi-structured interview. More than 90% reported that the program exceeded their expectations. Pharmacists' knowledge in thrombosis care improved significantly after each day of the course. Participants felt the greatest benefits of the program were increases in knowledge and confidence and the opportunity to network. The case-based discussions and practical tips gained from experts and peers were highly ranked. Participants strongly agreed that they were applying what they learned in the course to clinical practice, and they provided numerous examples of how their practice changed because of the program. Discussion and summaryThe development of this CE course demonstrates application of best practices in continuing education. The evaluation of the program suggests that a CE course in thrombosis improves pharmacist knowledge, confidence and ability to incorporate what was learned into practice. This course design and evaluation can serve as a model for other CE courses for pharmacists as this field continues to grow and encourages thoughtful use of theoretical principles and well-designed evaluation for continual improvement of CE.

Pharmacists’ attitudes regarding provision of sexual and reproductive health services

ObjectivesThe primary objective was to assess attitudes from Ohio pharmacists about contraceptive authority. Secondary objectives included determining pharmacists’ perceptions of benefits, barriers, and preparedness for offering such services and examining attitudes about and experiences with other reproductive health topics to inform future research. MethodsAn anonymous 26-question Institutional Review Board–approved electronic survey was developed and distributed via Qualtrics to a random sample of 500 licensed pharmacists in Ohio. Two months were allotted for survey completion. A link to free Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education–approved continuing pharmacy education (CPE) through Ohio Northern University was offered as an incentive for completing the survey. ResultsOne hundred thirty-eight pharmacists completed the survey (62% female). Fifty-eight percent worked in community pharmacy and 34% in health-system pharmacy. The majority indicated that oral and transdermal contraceptive methods should be pharmacist-initiated (57% and 54%, respectively) through a collaborative practice agreement or statewide protocol. More pharmacists supported provision of hormonal contraception through a collaborative practice agreement rather than a statewide protocol. Increased access to care and convenience for patients were identified most frequently as potential benefits. Time constraints, concerns of increased liability, and other barriers for initiating such services were identified by pharmacists. Pharmacists most frequently listed clinical guidelines, CPE, and patient education materials as tools needed to successfully initiate contraceptive therapy regimens. Pharmacists responding to the survey were also proponents of increasing involvement in other aspects of sexual and reproductive health, such as expedited partner therapy (64%) and human papilloma virus vaccination (67%). Respondents indicated a potential lack of experience or training in topics such as expedited partner therapy and intimate partner violence. ConclusionPharmacists surveyed showed interest in providing sexual and reproductive health services, including pharmacist-provided prescription contraceptive products and preventive health services. Further studies are needed to evaluate pharmacists’ roles in other sexual and reproductive health services.

Current and Future Opportunities and Challenges in Continuing Pharmacy Education

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) convened a consensus-seeking invitational conference on October 29-30, 2015, in Chicago, Ill. ACPE's desire to have stakeholder guidance on its role in the future of continuing pharmacy education and continuing professional development led to the convening of the conference. The purpose of this article is to summarize the proceedings of the conference, including the recommendations from the stakeholders.

Development and perceived effects of an educational programme on quality and safety in medication handling in residential facilities

To develop and test an educational programme on quality and safety in medication handling for staff in residential facilities for the disabled. The continuing pharmacy education instructional design model was used to develop the programme with 22 learning objectives on disease and medicines, quality and safety, communication and coordination. The programme was a flexible, modular seven + two days' course addressing quality and safety in medication handling, disease and medicines, and medication supervision and reconciliation. The programme was tested in five Danish municipalities. Municipalities were selected based on their application for participation; each independently selected a facility for residents with mental and intellectual disabilities, and a facility for residents with severe mental illnesses. Perceived effects were measured based on a questionnaire completed by participants before and after the programme. Effects on motivation and confidence as well as perceived effects on knowledge, skills and competences related to medication handling, patient empowerment, communication, role clarification and safety culture were analysed conducting bivariate, stratified analyses and test for independence. Of the 114 participants completing the programme, 75 participants returned both questionnaires (response rate = 66%). Motivation and confidence regarding quality and safety in medication handling significantly improved, as did perceived knowledge, skills and competences on 20 learning objectives on role clarification, safety culture, medication handling, patient empowerment and communication. The programme improved staffs' motivation and confidence and their perceived ability to handle residents' medication safely through improved role clarification, safety culture, medication handling and patient empowerment and communication skills.

Pharmacists' readiness to provide naloxone in community pharmacies in West Virginia

ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to assess West Virginia pharmacists' stocking and dispensing practices of opioid-related medications and to identify the educational needs relating to providing naloxone in community pharmacies. DesignA cross-sectional, anonymous, 49-item survey was created and validated to assess the educational needs of West Virginia community pharmacists. SettingWest Virginia. ParticipantsThe data collection instrument was administered to 266 pharmacists currently licensed in West Virginia at 6 continuing pharmacy education events throughout the state from March 1 to June 15, 2016. Outcome measuresPharmacists' educational needs were determined using the Extended Parallel Process Model, which has 4 main constructs: perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, response efficacy, and self-efficacy. Pharmacists' stocking and dispensing of opioids and related medications were also assessed. ResultsPharmacists completed 157 surveys. They were mostly male (56.1%), full-time employees (67.5%), worked mostly in community pharmacies (69.4%), and had a mean age of 50.19 years (SD = 13.62). The newly adapted opioid perceived efficacy and perceived severity of opioid adverse events scales were tested for reliability and validity. Only 20.4% of the community pharmacists surveyed felt comfortable selling naloxone without a prescription. As for the other opioid-related medications, only 53.3% stocked buprenorphine and 74.8% stocked buprenorphine/naloxone. ConclusionsAs the most accessible health care providers, community pharmacists are acutely aware of how the opioid epidemic affects their communities. Some pharmacists in West Virginia are hesitant to stock and dispense opioids and opioid-dependence medications. Although this may decrease the flow of potentially abused drugs into the community, it may also restrict access to necessary therapy for patients with opioid use disorder. Furthermore, pharmacists in West Virginia are not yet comfortable stocking and dispensing naloxone. Tailored educational materials can help in controlling the pharmacists' fear and reinforce the benefits of over-the-counter naloxone use.

Advances in Hospital Pharmacy

Pharmacy practice has passed several rounds of advancements over the past few years. It had changed the traditional positioning criteria of pharmacists as business people into patient-centered healthcare professionals. This worldwide shift is increasingly accumulating pressure on pharmacists to turn up into better level of service providing accompanied with higher demand of inter-personal skills and intellectual capabilities. This can be accomplished through stressing the significance of continuing pharmacy education in basic sciences as well as social and administrative pharmacy techniques and its collaboration in elevating the quality of pharmacy practice.

Continuing Pharmacy Education: Effect on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Community Pharmacists in South India

Continuing Pharmacy Education: Effect on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Community Pharmacists in South India

Assessment of Texan pharmacists' attitudes, behaviors, and preferences related to continuing pharmacy education.

Background:Whether the available Continuing Education (CE) programs meet pharmacists’ continuously increasing needs and preferences is open to question.Objectives:to investigate pharmacists’ perceptions and attitudes concerning available CE programs, evaluate the pharmacists’ choices with regard to selecting among different CE programs, and investigate the factors that are associated with preference to utilize online CE programs.Method:A 17-question survey was developed and mailed to a random sample of 600 Texan pharmacists. In addition to collecting basic demographic information, the survey investigated pharmacists’ choices with regard to delivery and content of CE programs, motivations to participation in CE programs, and pharmacists’ preferences for future CE programs.Results:A total of 161 pharmacists completed the survey and mailed back their responses. Excluding the 75 undeliverable surveys, the response rate was 31%. Approximately 83% of respondents found that currently available CE programs met their educational needs. The most important factors influencing pharmacists’ choices with regard to CE programs were the scope programs, the location where programs are held, and the cost associated with enrolling in such programs. Online CE was the most preferred mode of CE among participants. The factors that were associated with pharmacists’ preferences to complete 50% or more of required CE through online programs were previous use of online CE programs, preference to limit the duration of CE programs to 1 or 2 hour-long, and perceived ability to find adequate CE programs among currently available CE programs.Conclusion:The findings suggest modalities for CE programs providers on how to improve CE programs in the future in order to meet the preferences of local pharmacists.

Have confidence in your competence by keeping current

Have confidence in your competence by keeping current

Improving Health Care Providers' Capacity for Self-Regulated Learning in Online Continuing Pharmacy Education: The Role of Internet Self-Efficacy.

Although Internet-based learning is widely used to improve health professionals' knowledge and skills, the self-regulated learning (SRL) activities of online continuing education in pharmacy are seldom discussed. The main purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between pharmacists' Internet self-efficacy (ISE) and their SRL in online continuing education. A total of 164 in-service pharmacists in Taiwan were surveyed with the Internet Self-Efficacy Survey, including basic ISE (B-ISE), advanced ISE (A-ISE) and professional ISE (P-ISE), as well as the Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaire consisting of preparatory SRL (P-SRL) and enactment SRL (E-SRL). Results of a 1-by-3 (educational levels: junior college versus bachelor versus master) analysis of variance and a 1-by-4 (institutions: community-based versus hospital versus clinic versus company) analysis of variance revealed that there were differences in ISE and SRL among different education levels and working institutions. The hierarchical regression analyses indicated that B-ISE and P-ISE were significant predictors of P-SRL, whereas P-ISE was a critical predictor of E-SRL. Moreover, the interaction of P-ISE × age was linked to E-SRL, implying that P-ISE has a stronger influence on E-SRL for older pharmacists than for younger pharmacists. However, the interactions between age and ISE (A-ISE, B-ISE, and P-ISE) were not related to P-SRL. This study highlighted the importance of ISE and age for increasing pharmacists' SRL in online continuing education.

APhA2016; Advanced Preceptor Training; APhA member spotlight; BPS specialty certification

APhA2016; Advanced Preceptor Training; APhA member spotlight; BPS specialty certification