Yen-Ming Huang1, Yea-Huei Kao Yang2, Swu-Jane Lin3, Karin Chiung-Sheue Chen4, Chuan-Chi Kuo5, Fe-Lin Lin Wu6. 1. Division of Social and Administrative Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. 3. Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Yuanda Pharmacy, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Department of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: flwu@ntu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: To assess knowledge improvement by the participants in a pharmacist-facilitated national community education program over a 4-month semester and to identify the educational needs of adults related to medications. METHODS: This was a single-group, pre- and post-program comparative study. From February 2005 to February 2006, 1983 community residents participating in the education program implemented at 57 community universities nationwide were included. A questionnaire consisting of 50 true/false questions was administered before and after the program to assess the participants' medication knowledge. Paired t test was used to analyze the pre- and post-program differences and generalized linear mixed models were applied to examine the demographic variables that might influence the background knowledge and outcome after adjusting for school effects. RESULTS: A total of 848 participants (42.8%) completed the pre-to-post questionnaire. Baseline medication knowledge was positively correlated with participants' education level and negatively correlated with age. Significant improvement (11.3%, p < 0.001) in medication knowledge was evident at the end of the program. The age and education level were significant determinants in the improvement of the pre-to-post program test score. The specific areas that required improvement most in the knowledge of the participants were: instructions on refill prescriptions, proper storage of medication, the health insurance system, drug use in special populations, and over-the-counter drugs. CONCLUSION: This national program improved participants' medication knowledge over a 4-month period. Patient counseling focusing more on the knowledge deficiency identified in this study during patient care is recommended.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: To assess knowledge improvement by the participants in a pharmacist-facilitated national community education program over a 4-month semester and to identify the educational needs of adults related to medications. METHODS: This was a single-group, pre- and post-program comparative study. From February 2005 to February 2006, 1983 community residents participating in the education program implemented at 57 community universities nationwide were included. A questionnaire consisting of 50 true/false questions was administered before and after the program to assess the participants' medication knowledge. Paired t test was used to analyze the pre- and post-program differences and generalized linear mixed models were applied to examine the demographic variables that might influence the background knowledge and outcome after adjusting for school effects. RESULTS: A total of 848 participants (42.8%) completed the pre-to-post questionnaire. Baseline medication knowledge was positively correlated with participants' education level and negatively correlated with age. Significant improvement (11.3%, p < 0.001) in medication knowledge was evident at the end of the program. The age and education level were significant determinants in the improvement of the pre-to-post program test score. The specific areas that required improvement most in the knowledge of the participants were: instructions on refill prescriptions, proper storage of medication, the health insurance system, drug use in special populations, and over-the-counter drugs. CONCLUSION: This national program improved participants' medication knowledge over a 4-month period. Patient counseling focusing more on the knowledge deficiency identified in this study during patient care is recommended.
Authors: Hsiang-Wen Lin; Elizabeth H Chang; Yu Ko; Chun-Yu Wang; Yu-Shan Wang; Okti Ratna Mafruhah; Shang-Hua Wu; Yu-Chieh Chen; Yen-Ming Huang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-09-23 Impact factor: 3.390