Self-instructional program on pediatric parenteral nutrition

A self-instructional package on pediatric parenteral nutrition was designed and its effectiveness in educating health-care practitioners was studied. Participants included eight medical students, 10 pediatricians, 10 pharmacists and 10 pharmacy students at a teaching hospital. Each participant reviewed the program and completed 25-point pre- and posttests. Participants consistently scored higher on the posttest than on the pretest. Further, participants felt that they better understood parenteral nutrition therapy and that they better understood how to write or check orders as a result of their participation in the program. It is suggested that a self-instructional package is an effective method of educating practitioners and students in total parenteral nutrition.