Pharmacists in dispensing drugs (PharmDisp): protocol for a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of distance education in training pharmacists for dispensing drugs

Abstract

Dispensing drug is a moment in which the pharmacist is able to analyze pharmacotherapy and contribute to its rational use. However, research has shown that some pharmacists lack adequate knowledge to perform this service. This study aims to describe a research protocol for a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of a distance learning program to train pharmacists in dispensing drugs. This is a protocol for an open diagnostic, non-randomized, single group clinical trial. A 12-week duration distance learning course was structured on the Moodle platform for training community pharmacists who are registered in the Regional Board of Pharmacy and work as employees or owners in Brazilian community pharmacies. The course curricula involves concepts and practice of dispensing drugs applied to the treatment of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and asthma. Pharmacists are divided randomly into groups, to which previously selected tutors give directions to the discussion and clarify questions. A validated questionnaire is being used before and after the course to measure participants' knowledge. Participant satisfaction with the course is also being measured. Pharmacists who work in the study headquarters municipality receive two visits from a mystery shopper, before and after the course, to evaluate their performance in dispensing drugs. The virtual platform and the content of the course material were evaluated by judges. The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo. The sample size was estimated to provide desired power for testing the significance of the difference between baseline-to-endpoint change scores. Information about the course is being released through channels such as social networks. The results will be submitted for publication in scientific journals, but information enabling the identification of the study subjects will be kept confidential. The trial has been registered in The Brazilian Clinical Trials

A Distance-Learning Course to Improve Drug-Dispensing Behaviors Among Brazilian Community Pharmacists

“…The administrative, didactic, and academic structure of the course was previously described elsewhere. 20 The course, titled PharmDisp (Pharmacists in Dispensing Drugs), was developed in Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (MOODLE) (Perth, Australia) because the platform is internationally recognized for promoting new strategies for learning and has functional tools to manage the teaching process. Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs (TREND) was used to plan this research.…”

“…The process of performing this type of evaluation has been described elsewhere. 20 The mystery shopper technique involved a trained actor posing as a shopper entering the pharmacy and presenting a valid prescription to the pharmacist to be filled. The actors were properly trained to avoid bias and only the researchers knew the identity of the collaborators who acted as mystery shopper.…”