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A novel educational approach for improving medication-related problems in community pharmacies
Nadia Al Mazrouei1, Rana M Ibrahim1, Ahmad Z Al Meslamani2
1Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy : RSAP
|May 16, 2021
Summary
WhatsApp-delivered clinical case scenarios improved pharmacists' ability to identify medication-related problems (MRPs). This method also reduced the time needed to resolve MRPs, enhancing patient safety and care.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Practice
- Digital Health Education
- Patient Safety
Background:
- Community pharmacists play a crucial role in identifying and resolving medication-related problems (MRPs).
- Effective identification and resolution of MRPs are essential for improving patient safety.
- Traditional methods may not always be sufficient for continuous pharmacist education on MRPs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of using WhatsApp to deliver clinical case scenarios on pharmacists' ability to identify MRPs.
- To assess the effectiveness of a novel educational intervention in a community pharmacy setting.
- To determine if digital communication platforms can enhance clinical problem-solving skills.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 104 community pharmacies in the UAE over six months.
- Randomized allocation of pharmacies into intervention and control groups.
- Delivery of clinical case scenarios via WhatsApp to the intervention group.
- Assessment of MRP identification, resolution time, and physician acceptance by expert panels.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed a significantly higher number of identified MRPs (492 vs. 194).
- Mean time to resolve MRPs for patients with major polypharmacy was significantly shorter in the intervention group (6.82 vs. 10.78).
- Physician acceptance of pharmacist recommendations was substantially higher in the intervention group (82.94% vs. 62.18%).
Conclusions:
- Delivering clinical case scenarios through WhatsApp is an effective strategy for enhancing pharmacists' skills in identifying MRPs.
- This digital approach can significantly reduce the time required for MRP resolution.
- Utilizing messenger applications like WhatsApp offers a promising avenue for continuous professional development in community pharmacy.