Best Practices Continuing Education Program for Pharmacy Preceptors

Abstract

Specific Aims: To increase the use of best practices by pharmacy preceptors within their own settings and to identify if live continuing education presentations are considered superior to other forms of CE presentation. Subjects: Pharmacists attending the “Quest for the Best: Best Practices for Pharmacy Preceptors” CE program at the Arizona Pharmacy Alliance 2013 Annual Convention. Methods: Surveys administered before, after, and 6 months following the CE program collected data concerning the use of syllabi for rotations, the type and quantity of expected projects, frequency of student oversight, and feedback opportunities. Follow-up surveys assessed preferred forms of CE delivery. A survey administered six months following the CE’s conclusion identified changes made at the subjects’ sites as a result of the CE. Main Results: Surveys were completed by 20 pharmacy preceptors (mean years of experience = 5.95; SD = 5.36). 86% of the subjects preferred the live CE; 5% would have preferred the CE be delivered as a webinar. Chi-square testing found no statistically significant difference between pre-CE use of syllabus, frequency of student monitoring, and frequency of given feedback compared to 6-months post-CE (p = 0.59, 0.57, 0.30 respectively). Conclusion: The CE program did not demonstrate a difference among attending pharmacy preceptors in incorporating a syllabus at their site, altering monitoring of student, or time provided for feedback. Live CE was found to be the most desired at imparting best practices to pharmacy preceptors. 86% of responders reported changing their site practices as a result of the CE presentation.