Use and effectiveness of pharmacy continuing-education materials

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy education
• Continuing professional development

Background:

• Continuing education (CE) is crucial for pharmacists to maintain and enhance their professional competence.
• Understanding the preferred formats and perceived effectiveness of CE is vital for optimizing educational strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utilization patterns and perceived effectiveness of various continuing education (CE) formats among practicing pharmacists.
• To assess how different CE modalities impact pharmacists' knowledge acquisition and clinical practice behavior.

Main Methods:

• A 31-item online survey was distributed to 2000 practicing pharmacists.
• Data were collected on general CE usage, recent CE formats, and perceived effectiveness in enhancing knowledge and practice.
• Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were used to analyze responses from 365 eligible participants.

Main Results:

• Printed materials (92%), lectures/seminars (75%), and internet-based materials (53%) were the most frequently used CE formats.
• Pharmacists reported that all CE formats were effective in improving their knowledge.
• However, CE programs were perceived as less effective in enhancing clinical practice behavior.

Conclusions:

• Printed materials and lectures remain dominant formats for pharmacy continuing education.
• While CE is highly valued for knowledge enhancement, its direct impact on improving clinical practice requires further investigation and potential refinement of educational approaches.