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Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
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A training workshop for community pharmacist workforce: Caring for older adults
Pui San Saw1, Shaun Wen Huey Lee1
1School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Currents in Pharmacy Teaching & Learning
|December 18, 2019
Summary
Community pharmacists showed improved knowledge and comfort in caring for older adults after a one-day geriatric care workshop. This educational program enhances pharmaceutical care for the growing elderly population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Pharmacy
- Pharmaceutical Education
- Healthcare for Older Adults
Background:
- The global increase in older adults presents challenges for healthcare systems.
- Limited research exists on educational programs for community pharmacists regarding geriatric care, particularly in Asia.
- There is a need to enhance the capacity of community pharmacists to provide pharmaceutical care to elderly patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement a structured educational program on geriatric care for community pharmacists.
- To equip community pharmacists with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage the healthcare needs of older adults.
- To address the gap in specialized training for pharmacists serving the elderly population.
Main Methods:
- A one-day interactive workshop was conducted for community pharmacists.
- The workshop incorporated case study discussions and role-playing, combining didactic and experiential learning.
- Training materials were provided to enable participants to conduct follow-up sessions with peers.
Main Results:
- Participants (n=39) demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge regarding geriatric care (mean score change 0.7, p < .001).
- Pharmacists reported increased comfort in managing and caring for older adults (mean score change 0.3, p = .001).
- The program covered key concepts including ageing population issues, medication review, and age-specific dietary and dosage form considerations.
Conclusions:
- The educational program effectively enhanced community pharmacists' understanding and skills in geriatric care.
- The importance of communication in problem-solving for elderly patients was highlighted.
- Community pharmacists are crucial in providing accessible healthcare and pharmaceutical care to the growing elderly population.
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