Pharmacist Web-based training program on medication use in chronic kidney disease patients: impact on knowledge, skills, and satisfaction.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are multimorbid elderly at high risk of drug-related problems. A Web-based training program was developed based on a list of significant drug-related problems in CKD patients requiring a pharmaceutical intervention. The objectives were to evaluate the impact of the program on community pharmacists' knowledge and skills and their satisfaction with the training.
METHODS: Pharmacists were randomized to the training program or the control group. Training comprised a 60-minute Web-based interactive session supported by a clinical guide. Pharmacists completed a questionnaire on knowledge (10 multiple-choice questions) and skills (2 clinical vignettes) at baseline and a second time within 1 month. Trained pharmacists completed a written satisfaction questionnaire. Semidirected telephone interviews were conducted with 8 trained pharmacists. Changes in knowledge and skills scores were compared between the groups.
RESULTS: Seventy pharmacists (training: 52; control: 18) were recruited; the majority were women with <15 years' experience. Compared with the control group, an adjusted incremental increase in the knowledge score (22%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 16%-27%) and skills score (24%; 95% CI: 16%-33%) was observed in the training group. Most pharmacists (87%-100%) rated each aspect of the program "excellent'' or "very good." Additional training and adding a discussion forum were suggested to complement the program. DISCUSSION: Pharmacists like the Web-based continuing education program. Over a short time span, the program improved their knowledge and skills. Its impact on their clinical practices and quality of medication use in CKD patients remains to be assessed.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes