Pharmaceutical continuing-education program based on a core curriculum

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Continuing Education
• Staff Development
• Curriculum Design

Background:

• Establishing comprehensive continuing education programs is crucial for professional development in pharmacy.
• Traditional methods may not always meet diverse staff needs effectively.
• A structured approach is required to ensure program relevance and engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of a core curriculum concept for a pharmacy staff continuing education program.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and staff perception of this novel continuing education model.

Main Methods:

• A departmental staff development committee identified six core curriculum areas: cardiology, infectious disease, nutrition/fluids, pharmacy management, critical care, and pharmacokinetics.
• Coordinators sourced topics and speakers within each area.
• A drug information center managed program logistics, including scheduling, evaluations, and continuing education credit provision.

Main Results:

• Staff perceptions of the program were overwhelmingly positive.
• The program was highly rated for meeting continuing education credit needs.
• Participants found the program beneficial as an employee perk and relevant to their daily practice.

Conclusions:

• The core curriculum concept is a successful and effective strategy for developing comprehensive continuing education programs.
• This structured approach enhances program relevance and addresses staff professional development needs.
• Implementing a core curriculum model can improve staff engagement and satisfaction with continuing education initiatives.