Pharmacy continuing education--its value to hospital pharmacy practice

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Administration
• Continuing Education
• Hospital Management

Background:

• Continuing education (C.E.) is crucial for professional development in hospital pharmacy administration.
• Assessing the perceived value of C.E. among current pharmacy directors is essential for targeted improvements.
• Understanding training needs can enhance the effectiveness of C.E. programs in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the academic training of hospital pharmacy directors.
• To assess directors' perceptions of the benefits of continuing education (C.E.) in their administrative roles.
• To identify areas for improvement in C.E. to better serve hospital pharmacy administrators.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was distributed to hospital pharmacy directors in facilities with over 300 beds.
• The questionnaire included sections on academic background and views on the utility of C.E.
• Data analysis focused on identifying trends in perceived C.E. benefits and training needs.

Main Results:

• Less than 50% of surveyed hospital pharmacy administrators found C.E. to be beneficial to their role.
• A significant portion of respondents did not perceive current C.E. offerings as meeting their administrative needs.
• The study highlights a gap between C.E. provision and its perceived value in hospital pharmacy management.

Conclusions:

• Current continuing education (C.E.) programs may not adequately address the specific needs of hospital pharmacy administrators.
• There is a clear need to enhance management training components within C.E. for pharmacists.
• Implementing targeted training strategies can increase the perceived value and impact of C.E. for pharmacy leaders.