The impact of a training program on pharmacists' comfort with pediatric pharmacy concepts and basic pediatric knowledge

Purpose: There is little data in the literature describing programs to enhance pharmacists’ comfort and competency related to pediatrics. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of a training program on pharmacists’ comfort with pediatric pharmacy concepts and basic pediatric knowledge.

Methods: All pharmacists at Mercy Hospital St. Louis were invited to participate in the study. Pharmacists completed a baseline survey of fifteen questions on basic knowledge in five pediatric topic areas (pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, weight-based dosing, anticoagulation, renal dosing, common antibiotics) as well as a self-assessment for eight statements of comfort with pediatric pharmacy. Following the pre-training survey, a training program combining mandatory self-study of handouts on the five topics with optional attendance at live education sessions was completed. Pharmacists then completed a post-training survey on the five topics including a repeat comfort assessment. The primary outcome was the change in self-assigned scores on the comfort-based assessment before and after training.  

Results: Fifty-two pharmacists consented to participate. Pharmacists reported significant improvement in six of eight comfort questions post-training (p < 0.001). On average, pharmacists rated all eight comfort statements with a level of disagreement at baseline; however, four statements transitioned to ratings of agreement post-training. Those without prior pediatric experience had lower comfort ratings at baseline than those with experience and showed significant improvement post-training for the same six questions (p < 0.001). Those with recent pediatric experience demonstrated significant change in comfort post-training for only one question (p = 0.048). Significant improvement in the proportion of correct answers on the knowledge assessment occurred post-training, regardless of prior experience (0.61 pre vs. 0.89 post, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Self-study training with optional live education resulted in significant improvement in most self-reported comfort scores for pharmacists, particularly those without recent pediatric pharmacy experience. Pharmacists, regardless of experience, improved basic pediatric knowledge scores post-training.