Education Program For Pharmacists Research Articles

Assessment of an intensive education program for pharmacists on treatment of tobacco use disorder using an objective structured clinical examination: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundTobacco use is one of the major public health threats globally. Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to offer tobacco cessation services owing to their easy accessibility by the public. To prepare Qatar community pharmacists to develop the competencies and skills required to offer smoking cessation services, an intensive tobacco control education program was designed and implemented. The study aimed to assess the impact of the tobacco education program on the pharmacists’ skills and competence.MethodsA random sample of community pharmacists in Qatar was chosen for participation in the program. Consenting participants were randomly assigned to either intervention or control groups. The intervention group received an intensive education program on treatment of tobacco-use disorder, while a short didactic session on a non-tobacco-related topic was delivered to the control group. The pharmacists’ tobacco cessation skills and competencies were assessed using an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).ResultsA total of 54 and 32 community pharmacists in the intervention group and the control group, respectively, completed the OSCE. The intensive tobacco education group achieved significantly higher total scores than the control group in all the OSCE cases. Specifically, the mean total scores for the intervention group were 15.2, 15.3, 14.2, 14.6, 16.3, and 15.2 compared to 8.8, 6.2, 7.7, 9.2, 8.3, and 11.3 for the control group (p < 0.001) for cases one to six respectively.ConclusionThe study demonstrated that an intensive tobacco cessation education program can improve pharmacists’ tobacco cessation skills and increase their tobacco cessation counseling abilities.Trial registrationClinical Trials NCT03518476 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03518476) Registration date: May 8, 2018.

Using Quality Control Techniques to Improve the Effectiveness of On-the-Job Education Programs for Pharmacists

&lt;p&gt;目的：改善在職教育課程的辦理成效，期能強化部內藥事人員專業技能以提升病人的照護品質。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;方法：本專案結合Kern課程規劃循環(Kern curriculum cycle)與品管手法PDCA的概念，由課堂的課後資料與 問卷進行現況分析與學習者需求調查，找出「課程參與度與完成度低」之主要因，並擬定對策。課程參與度之目標設定為每堂課平均出席人數過半達64位，課程完成率達85%。（課程完成之定義為限期內完成課後評值且分數高於80分，以及滿意度填寫）&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;結果：課程內容與品質改善後，平均出席人數由56位增加到65位，目標達成率112.5%；課程完成率由83.2%增加到87.3%，目標達成率227.8%。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;結論：藉由優化課程內容與品質，改善在職教育課程的辦理成效，進一步再將特定發展的課程主題以帶狀系列或社群模式進行，能提高同仁自主學習意願、促進自我成長，亦能強化同仁專業技能，進而提升病人照護品質，且有助於部門內人才師資培育兼顧員工職涯發展，並預做準備將全人照護概念向下扎根於藥學實習生。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Objective: To improve the effectiveness of on-the-job education programs for strengthening the professional skills of the pharmacists in our department and further enhance the quality of patient care.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Methods: This project integrated the Kern curriculum cycle and the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) concept of quality control. We used post-class evaluations and questionnaires to do a situation analysis and survey learners’ needs to identify the main reasons for low course participation and completion and to develop countermeasures to these problems. The course participation targets were an average attendance of 64 pharmacists per class and a course completion rate of 85%. Course completion was defined as completing both the postcourse evaluation (80 points to pass) and the satisfaction questionnaires by the stipulated deadline.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Results: After we improved the content and quality of the courses, the average attendance increased from 56 to 65, and the target achievement rate was 112.5%. In addition, the course completion rate increased from 83.2% to 87.3%, and the target achievement rate was 227.8%.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusion: By optimizing the content and quality of the courses, improving the effectiveness of the on-the-job education programs, and developing courses on specific topics within a series or community model, we cultivated independent learning and self-growth among our pharmacists, strengthened their professional skills, and improved the quality of patient care. Moreover, talents and teachers were fostered while taking into account the career development of our pharmacists, and preparations were made to root the concept of holistic care down in pharmacy interns.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Clinical decision-making: An essential skill for 21st century pharmacy practice.

Clinical decision-making skills are recognized as a central component of professional competency but are under-developed in pharmacy compared to other health professions. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of how pharmacists can best develop and use therapeutic decision-making skills in clinical practice. The aims of this commentary are to define clinical decision-making in pharmacy practice, and to present a model for clinical decision-making that aligns with a philosophical framework for pharmacy practice. The model has utility in education programs for pharmacists and provides a framework for understanding patient-facing clinical services in practice.

Impact of implementing a comprehensive patient management solution in a regional community pharmacy chain

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created the Star Rating system based on multiple measures that indicate the overall quality of health plans. Community pharmacists can impact certain Star Ratings measure scores through medication adherence and patient safety interventions.To explore methods, needs, and workflow issues of community pharmacists to improve CMS Star Ratings measures.Think-aloud protocols (TAPs) were conducted with active community retail pharmacists in Oklahoma. Each TAP was audio recorded and transcribed to documents for analysis. Analysts agreed on common themes, illuminated differences in findings, and saturation of the data gathered. Methods, needs, and workflow themes of community pharmacists associated with improving Star Ratings measures were compiled and organized to exhibit a decision-making process. Five TAPs were performed among three independent pharmacy owners, one multi-store owner, and one chain-store administrator.A thematically common 4-step process to monitor and improve CMS Star Ratings scores among participants was identified. To improve Star Ratings measures, pharmacists: 1) used technology to access scores, 2) analyzed data to strategically set goals, 3) assessed individual patient information for comprehensive assessment, and 4) decided on interventions to best impact Star Ratings scores. Participants also shared common needs, workflow issues, and benefits associated with methods used in improving Star Ratings.TAPs were useful in exploring processes of pharmacists who improve CMS Star Ratings scores. Pharmacists demonstrated and verbalized their methods, workflow issues, needs, and benefits related to performing the task. The themes and decision-making process identified to improving CMS Star Ratings scores will assist in the development of training and education programs for pharmacists in the community setting.

Pharmacy and provider partnership to reduce use of high risk medications in the elderly

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created the Star Rating system based on multiple measures that indicate the overall quality of health plans. Community pharmacists can impact certain Star Ratings measure scores through medication adherence and patient safety interventions.To explore methods, needs, and workflow issues of community pharmacists to improve CMS Star Ratings measures.Think-aloud protocols (TAPs) were conducted with active community retail pharmacists in Oklahoma. Each TAP was audio recorded and transcribed to documents for analysis. Analysts agreed on common themes, illuminated differences in findings, and saturation of the data gathered. Methods, needs, and workflow themes of community pharmacists associated with improving Star Ratings measures were compiled and organized to exhibit a decision-making process. Five TAPs were performed among three independent pharmacy owners, one multi-store owner, and one chain-store administrator.A thematically common 4-step process to monitor and improve CMS Star Ratings scores among participants was identified. To improve Star Ratings measures, pharmacists: 1) used technology to access scores, 2) analyzed data to strategically set goals, 3) assessed individual patient information for comprehensive assessment, and 4) decided on interventions to best impact Star Ratings scores. Participants also shared common needs, workflow issues, and benefits associated with methods used in improving Star Ratings.TAPs were useful in exploring processes of pharmacists who improve CMS Star Ratings scores. Pharmacists demonstrated and verbalized their methods, workflow issues, needs, and benefits related to performing the task. The themes and decision-making process identified to improving CMS Star Ratings scores will assist in the development of training and education programs for pharmacists in the community setting.

「地域格差のない医療情報提供のための薬剤師・看護師教育プログラム」2009年度事業終了報告( 外部利用支援)

「地域格差のない医療情報提供のための薬剤師・看護師教育プログラム」2009年度事業終了報告( 外部利用支援)

The use of think-aloud protocols to identify a decision-making process of community pharmacists aimed at improving CMS Star Ratings scores.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created the Star Rating system based on multiple measures that indicate the overall quality of health plans. Community pharmacists can impact certain Star Ratings measure scores through medication adherence and patient safety interventions. To explore methods, needs, and workflow issues of community pharmacists to improve CMS Star Ratings measures. Think-aloud protocols (TAPs) were conducted with active community retail pharmacists in Oklahoma. Each TAP was audio recorded and transcribed to documents for analysis. Analysts agreed on common themes, illuminated differences in findings, and saturation of the data gathered. Methods, needs, and workflow themes of community pharmacists associated with improving Star Ratings measures were compiled and organized to exhibit a decision-making process. Five TAPs were performed among three independent pharmacy owners, one multi-store owner, and one chain-store administrator. A thematically common 4-step process to monitor and improve CMS Star Ratings scores among participants was identified. To improve Star Ratings measures, pharmacists: 1) used technology to access scores, 2) analyzed data to strategically set goals, 3) assessed individual patient information for comprehensive assessment, and 4) decided on interventions to best impact Star Ratings scores. Participants also shared common needs, workflow issues, and benefits associated with methods used in improving Star Ratings. TAPs were useful in exploring processes of pharmacists who improve CMS Star Ratings scores. Pharmacists demonstrated and verbalized their methods, workflow issues, needs, and benefits related to performing the task. The themes and decision-making process identified to improving CMS Star Ratings scores will assist in the development of training and education programs for pharmacists in the community setting.

Training Australian pharmacists for participation in a collaborative, home-based post-discharge warfarin management service

To describe the development, implementation and outcomes of an anticoagulation education program for pharmacists participating in a community-based post-discharge warfarin management service. Australian community pharmacy practice. Three education modules were developed in collaboration with medical experts and delivered electronically and via hands-on training sessions to pharmacists in three Australian states. Educational outcomes were assessed via a short answer assignment and evaluation of their warfarin dosing recommendations for five hypothetical scenarios. Consumer and pharmacist perceptions of the adequacy of the training were surveyed using a structured postal questionnaire. Pharmacists' score in the short answer assignment and evaluation of their responses to the hypothetical warfarin dosing scenarios. Sixty-two pharmacists successfully completed the training program with a mean score for the short answer assignment of 14.3 out of 15 (95.3%; 95% CI 13.8-14.7). The pharmacists' warfarin management recommendations were very similar to those of two experienced medical specialists. Pharmacists and consumers expressed confidence in the adequacy of the training program. This education program successfully up-skilled a cohort of pharmacists for involvement in a post-discharge warfarin management service. These findings support formalization and further development of the program to facilitate widespread implementation of home-based post-discharge warfarin care.

Preceptors' views of community pharmacy clerkships: a national survey.

A survey was administered to a random sample of community pharmacy practitioners who participate as preceptors in clerkship programs for colleges of pharmacy throughout the country. The purpose of this survey was to determine (1) in what ways, if any, students have affected the preceptors' practices; (20 whether the students served as a sources of continuing education to the preceptors; (3) whether the preceptors identified areas of students' strengths/deficiencies; and (4) roles of colleges of pharmacy and pharmacy associations in providing continuing education programs for pharmacists. Results of this survey are discussed. Data are cross-tabulated for types of pharmacy services provided, years in practice, length of clerkship rotations, and other essential demographic information needed for evaluation. Based on responses, recommendations are made that will provide guidance to colleges of pharmacy, pharmaceutical associations, and practitioners currently involved or those who are considering involvement in clerkship programs.

Differential Attitudes Toward an Adult Education Program for Pharmacists

The research project measured post exposure attitude differentials toward a series of adult education programs for registered pharma cists. Four attitudinal scales were constructed for three specific factors of the pharmaceutical adult programs and one general criterion scale. Attending pharmacists were categorized according to their working environment and graduation date from pharmacy school. The quantified attitudinal measurements were subjected to an unequal cell, single factor analysis of variance. The analysis revealed that hospital pharmacists held more negative general attitudes toward the series of adult pharmacy programs than did community pharmacists. A similar analysis of variance revealed that the graduation date classification demonstrated no relation ship to the expressed attitudes of the attending pharmacists.