Learning Theory-Driven Tips for Designing Effective Learning Solutions for the Continuous Education of Community Pharmacists to Enhance Patient-Centered Care—A Qualitative Study

Inhaler use technique course: an effective postgraduate training solution for pharmacists to enhance therapeutic outcomes as part of patient education

BACKGROUND

Patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease could benefit from education on using inhalers provided by pharmacists. However, pharmacists may have limited competencies, indicating the necessity to implement appropriate postgraduate courses. The study aimed to evaluate an inhaler use course for pharmacists, including its impact on participants' knowledge and satisfaction.

METHODS

The study involved 261 pharmacists from community pharmacies and was conducted between September 2019 and March 2021. A pre-post analysis of their knowledge of the topic was applied. Additionally, at the beginning of the course, participants were asked about their educational needs, and at the end, they completed a satisfaction survey. The preferred learning formats indicated by participants were interactive workshops and lectures.

RESULTS

As a result of the course, both their actual and self-assessed level of knowledge significantly increased. The percentage of correct answers in the test before the training was 24.4%, while after, it was 84.3% (p < 0.0001). Before the course, their average self-assessed level of knowledge was 52.0%, and after the training, it increased to 90.0% (p < 0.0001). Almost all respondents stated that the course met their expectations. They estimated their satisfaction at 94.0% and the usefulness of the provided information at 98.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Improved preparation of pharmacists resulting from their participation in the course can contribute to providing more professional advice to patients, thereby positively influencing the pharmaceutical care process in community pharmacies.

Lived experiences of Turkish community pharmacists toward person-centric care: a qualitative analysis

Background

In Turkey, the SMART pharmacist program was launched to enable community pharmacists to deliver patient-centric care services. However, how far this programme has achieved success and what are the challenges faced by the programme need to be evaluated.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the experiences of community pharmacists in providing person-centric care services in pharmacies and provide recommendations for improved care effectiveness.

Methods

A phenomenological approach was adopted in this study. To conduct qualitative interviews, a semi-structured interview guide was devised to gather insights from the pharmacists. The interviews were coded verbatim. Subsequently, various themes and sub-themes were developed based on the aim and objectives of the study. A total of 14 pharmacists engaged in semi-structured interviews conducted between May and August 2023.

Results

Two main themes emerged from the data: challenges in person-centric care and recommendations to improve person-centric care. Barriers were subdivided into patient-related challenges and personal challenges. Recommendations consisted of pharmacists' professional tasks and recommendations.

Conclusion

The findings of this study, suggest that the concerned healthcare authorities should re-evaluate the 'SMART pharmacist' program in Turkey and address professional and personal challenges faced by community pharmacists in delivering effective person-centric care. Pharmacists recommend patient follow-up (follow-ups), providing a counselling environment, collaboration with physicians, expansion of pharmacy services.