The Intersection of Growth Mindset and Accreditation in Pharmacy Education.

OBJECTIVES: To describe existing growth mindset literature within pharmacy and health care education, describe how a growth mindset can be beneficial in the accreditation process, and propose potential ways to promote a growth mindset in faculty, preceptors, students, and staff within pharmacy education. FINDINGS: To help pharmacy learners develop a growth mindset, existing literature emphasizes the need for a shift toward and aligning assessment with a growth mindset, helping to create self-directed adaptive learners, leading to health care providers who can adjust their practice to tackle expected and unexpected challenges throughout their careers. Strategies to create a culture of growth mindset identified include training faculty and learners on growth mindset and developing new assessments that track a learner's growth. Recommendations for pharmacy educators include encouraging educators to assess their own growth mindset and use a variety of teaching methods and provide feedback on learner effort that encourages the process of learning rather than focusing on individual attributes, traits, and results. SUMMARY: Growth mindset intersects with accreditation standards for both professional degree programs and providers of continuing pharmacy education. Continuing professional development process is one way to encourage faculty, staff, and students to develop a growth mindset. While a growth mindset can have many positive impacts on pharmacy accreditation, it is essential to recognize that achieving and maintaining accreditation is a multifaceted process involving numerous factors. A growth mindset can positively influence pharmacy education accreditation by fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, resilience, student-centeredness, data-driven decision-making, collaboration, and effective leadership.

Evaluation of a vaccination training program for pharmacy graduands in Australia.

INTRODUCTION: The University of Sydney School of Pharmacy offered provisionally registered pharmacy graduands the opportunity to complete the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA) vaccination training course. This study evaluated participant perceptions of the vaccination training course and their experiences in administering the vaccines. METHODS: Graduands' perceived knowledge of influenza vaccinations and skills and confidence in administering vaccinations were assessed using anonymous, 17-item, pre- and post-course surveys (5-point Likert items, 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Pre-course completion was 68% (63 of 92 participants) and post-course completion was 62% (57 of 92 participants). Follow-up interviews with 18 participants provided an understanding of vaccination experiences and opinions of the quality and timing of the course in terms of preparing them to confidently administer influenza vaccines in a community pharmacy setting. RESULTS: The course resulted in significant increases in the graduands' perceived knowledge of influenza vaccinations (24.4% increase, p < 0.001), skills in managing patients receiving influenza vaccines (27.1% increase, p < 0.001), and confidence level to administer influenza vaccines (80.7% increase, p < 0.001). Telephone interviews confirmed the survey results and showed that 55% of participants administered influenza vaccines during their intern year, with the majority (63%) of participants believing that the best time to complete the training course was shortly before commencing vaccinations. CONCLUSIONS: The PGA vaccination training course significantly improved graduands' confidence, skill, and knowledge of influenza vaccination. However, the amount of time between completing the training course and first vaccination can affect confidence to administer vaccines.

Implementation of systematic progression of community pharmacy-based prescription verification into the skills-based laboratory curriculum.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of systematic progressive community pharmacy-based prescription verification activities across a skills-based laboratory course series. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Community pharmacy-based prescription verification activities were implemented into three laboratory courses, Abilities Lab (ABL) 1, 2, and 4. During each activity, students practiced prescription verification using a handout with two components. First, a checklist outlining an eight-step verification process serves as a student resource. In the second handout component, students are required to identify which step contains a prescription error(s), the appropriate pharmacist action, and the recommendation needed in order to correct the error(s). After verifying and completing the handout, the students participate in a facilitator-led discussion on the recommendations necessary to dispense the prescription. As students progressed through ABL 1, 2, and 4, both the error type and scope of the verification process expanded. Class verification exercises culminated in a final practical assessment at the end of each semester. FINDINGS: In ABL 1 students scored an average of 99.5% (n = 161, standard deviation (SD) = 1.92) on the final practical assessment. In ABL 2, students scored an average of 97.6% (n = 166, SD = 3.07). In ABL 4, students scored an average of 90.3% (n = 159, SD = 11.2). SUMMARY: This manuscript adds value to the current literature by describing the implementation of progressive community pharmacy-based prescription verification activities across a skills-based laboratory course series.

An evaluation of virtual ethics discussion groups as a method of learning on a pharmacist Independent Prescribing (IP) programme.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A postgraduate body within Queen's University Belfast (QUB) has offered a pharmacist Independent Prescribing (IP) programme to pharmacists living locally in Northern Ireland (NI) since 2006. In 2016, this course was modified and delivered by the School of Pharmacy within QUB for a non-local population of pharmacists from Great Britain (GB). In order to substitute face-to-face, live training in NI, distance learning methods were employed for one of the modules that involved studying ethical dilemmas. The purpose of this study was to assess participant acceptance and perceived effectiveness of the utilized distance learning methods. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: All participants within Cohort 2 of the IP programme offered to GB pharmacists viewed an online recorded lecture on dealing with ethical dilemmas. This involved being taught about a professional decision-making model. Participants then applied this model to four ethical case studies via virtual discussion groups and were invited to complete a questionnaire regarding their views on these teaching methods. FINDINGS: Twenty participants viewed the online recorded lecture, and 19 attended the virtual discussion groups. Eighteen participants (90%) responded to the survey. Participants reacted positively to the e-learning format. Following the training, all participants felt confident applying the professional decision-making model and only one did not intend to apply the model to their practice. SUMMARY: The utilized e-learning format was well received and effective in producing pharmacists who felt confident approaching and resolving ethical dilemmas in their new roles as pharmacist prescribers.

Implementation of a Continuing Professional Development Course in a Longitudinal Didactic Curriculum for Pharmacy Students.

Objective. To implement a continuous professional development (CPD) program in the didactic curriculum of a three-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, and evaluate associated outcomes. Methods. The initial CPD program was implemented in the didactic curriculum of the PharmD program in 2014-2015. Barriers were identified and strategies adopted to overcome the barriers. A revised CPD curriculum was implemented in the 2015-2016 academic year. Student and faculty evaluations of the course were conducted, and students' perceived capabilities in the various skills related to professional development were measured. Results. The student ratings of the course were acceptable (ranging from 3.3 to 4.2 on a 5-point Likert scale). First-year students rated the course higher than second-year students did. The majority of faculty members found the CPD curriculum valuable for students. Students perceived that their skills in oral, written and interprofessional communication, leadership, and time management had significantly improved after completing the course. Conclusion. Implementation of a CPD process during the didactic curriculum for PharmD students is feasible and beneficial to students' professional development. This CPD model provided students with an opportunity to develop self-directed lifelong learning skills and prepared them to transition to practice-based learning in their final year of the program.

Changes in Pharmacists' Perceptions After a Training in Opioid Misuse and Accidental Overdose Prevention.

INTRODUCTION: Continuing education is needed for health professionals to take an active role in reversing the opioid crisis. This report describes the results of training to promote behavioral change by altering pharmacists' perceptions toward opioid misuse through the provision of content-related education. METHODS: A free 3-hour opioid misuse and overdose prevention training program was developed and delivered to 43 community pharmacists. The training consisted of five modules addressing the disease of addiction, risks associated with opioids and accidental overdose, the role of naloxone, opioid dispensing and consultation pearls, and effective ways to communicate with patients about opioids. A paired analysis was performed from a 12-item survey delivered before and after the training program to assess changes in pharmacists' perception. RESULTS: Five items showed a statistically significant (P < .05) change in perceptions after the training. Significant changes were reported for opioid addiction being outside the control of the affected person, the role of family history in prescription drug abuse, the value of counseling to support patients at risk of prescription opioid abuse, the value of screening tools, and the importance of viewing things from the patient's perspective. Correlation analysis identified that pharmacists' views on their role in the fight against the opioid epidemic and their agreement in the value to screen for opioid misuse were most closely related to the desire for behavioral change. DISCUSSION: A training program influenced pharmacists' attitudes and perceptions about targeted behaviors and associated with the value of screening for opioid misuse or overdose risk and counseling patients about the benefits and risks of opioids.

A competency framework for clinical pharmacists and heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: Heart failure is an escalating 'pandemic' with malignant outcomes. Clinical pharmacist heart failure services have been developing for the past two decades. However, little clarity is available on the additional advanced knowledge, skills and experience needed for pharmacists to practice safely and competently. We aimed to provide an expert consensus on the minimum competencies necessary for clinical pharmacists to deliver appropriate care to patients with heart failure. METHODS: There were four methodological parts; (1) establishing a project group from experts in the field; (2) review of the literature, including existing pharmacy competency frameworks in other specialities and previous heart failure curricula from other professions; (3) consensus building, including developing, reviewing and adapting the contents of the framework; and (4) write-up and dissemination to widen the impact of the project. KEY FINDINGS: The final framework defines minimum competencies relevant to heart failure for four different potential levels of specialism: all pharmacists regardless of role (Stage 1); all patient-facing clinical pharmacists (Stage 2); clinical pharmacists with specific planned roles in the care of heart failure patients (Stage 3); and regionally/nationally/internationally recognised expert pharmacists with a direct specialism in heart failure (Stage 4). CONCLUSIONS: The framework delivers the vital first step needed to help standardise care, give pharmacists a blueprint for career progression and continuing professional development and bring clarity to the role of the pharmacist. Future collaboration between professional bodies and training providers is needed to develop structured programmes to align with the framework and facilitate training and resultant accreditation.

Novel approach for quality assessment and improving diagnostic accuracy in cell-based infection imaging using 99mTc-HMPAO labeled leukocytes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Labeled leukocytes with 99mTc-HMPAO are routinely used for infection imaging. Although cell labeling with 99mTc-HMPAO represents an imaging probe to detect infection sites, the diagnostic efficiency of the probe is largely influenced by cell manipulation, multidisciplinary interventions (i.e., biologist, technicians) and available technology (i.e., SPECT, SPECT/CT). The aim of the study was to assess in vitro and in vivo accuracy of a comprehensive approach for quality assessment (QA) of all steps of the procedure. METHODS: Radiochemical purity (RCP), pH, labeling efficiency (LE) were measured in 320 procedures. White Cell Viability Factor (WVF) was determined in consecutive blood samples. Images (490 studies) were scored using a 5-point scale. Training program was evaluated using a Learning Questionnaire and a score system. RESULTS: Pre/post-labelling WVF was 0.99% (max value 1%) in all blood samples. LE (mean value 72%) and RCP (>80% until 55 minutes) yielded considerably high values. The vast majority of images were scored as diagnostic by three independent observer (90% with score ≥4). CONCLUSIONS: This method appears highly reproducible and easy to use in clinical routine for leukocyte labeling, especially when standardized training and total QA system are implemented.

Are UK hospital pharmacy departments ready for the rise of gene therapy medicinal products?

INTRODUCTION: The first gene therapy medicines are licensed and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved for use in the NHS. UK Hospital pharmacy departments will need to work with multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure that there are facilities available to handle this new group of medicines. Areas Covered: UK licensed and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence gene therapy medicinal products (GTMP) and requirements for handling. Review of pharmacy facilities and implementation of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP) in the UK. Expert Opinion: Most hospital pharmacy departments do not have aseptic facilities for the reconstitution of gene therapy medicines, or have the appropriate freezers in place. Staff do not have the understanding or training of these products unless they are experienced in using them in clinical trials. Chief Pharmacists will need to ensure that governance process are in place as they will ultimately be responsible for the implementation and safe handling of these product. Therefore, work needs to continue to highlight the importance of pharmacy departments and their role in the implementation of this new group of medicines. As more GTMPs are licensed and become standard medicines being handled in pharmacy departments, there will be more hospital pharmacy departments ready to handle them. Initially it will just be the centers of excellence, ATMP centers, and research centers with the expertise and facilities. In the long-term, other hospitals will plan and build the facilities they require.

Development and evaluation of a continuing pharmacy education (CPE) program in thrombosis management.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A continuing education (CE) course in thrombosis management for pharmacists was developed through the Office of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) at the University of Toronto to address pharmacists' needs for the knowledge and skills to provide care to patients receiving anticoagulants. This article describes the development of the course as well as the evaluation designed to assess its impact on pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and changes in practice. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: A three-day course was developed. Outcomes were evaluated using a feedback questionnaire, pre- and post-session quizzes and semi-structured interviews conducted six months after course completion. Participant satisfaction, knowledge acquisition and perceived change in knowledge, skills and practice were evaluated. FINDINGS: Thirty-seven pharmacists enrolled in the program, 21 of whom participated in a semi-structured interview. More than 90% reported that the program exceeded their expectations. Pharmacists' knowledge in thrombosis care improved significantly after each day of the course. Participants felt the greatest benefits of the program were increases in knowledge and confidence and the opportunity to network. The case-based discussions and practical tips gained from experts and peers were highly ranked. Participants strongly agreed that they were applying what they learned in the course to clinical practice, and they provided numerous examples of how their practice changed because of the program. DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY: The development of this CE course demonstrates application of best practices in continuing education. The evaluation of the program suggests that a CE course in thrombosis improves pharmacist knowledge, confidence and ability to incorporate what was learned into practice. This course design and evaluation can serve as a model for other CE courses for pharmacists as this field continues to grow and encourages thoughtful use of theoretical principles and well-designed evaluation for continual improvement of CE.

Integrating parts of the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program for pharmacy professionals into a career development lab.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To use parts of the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program for Pharmacy Professionals in a career development laboratory designed to provide students with relevant information that will help them prepare for successful careers across the profession of pharmacy. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Students enrolled in the second professional year of pharmacy school participated in an interactive three-hour career development laboratory. Students completed the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program for Pharmacy Professionals Online Assessment Tool prior to the laboratory. In class, the students were randomized into eight groups. Two career profiles were assigned to each group for discussion during a thirty-minute brainstorming session. The groups reported their knowledge for each career profile to the entire class, and the instructors supplemented the discussion with details and more specific information about each profile. FINDINGS: Two years of data were collected (n=300 students). One hundred and twenty four (41.3%) students responded to the voluntary post-laboratory survey questions. Overall, students rated the career pathway activities favorably with an average score of 8.13 out of 10. After participation in the discussion, 74 (59.7%) respondents indicated their career interests had been impacted. SUMMARY: This career development laboratory is one example of how the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program for Pharmacy Professionals can be effectively incorporated into the PharmD curriculum in order to help students explore the various career options they might not have otherwise discovered on their own.

Positive and Negative Impacts of a Continuing Professional Development Intervention on Pharmacist Practice: A Balanced Measure Evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Evaluations of behavior change interventions aimed at improving professional practice are increasingly focused on impacts at the practice and patient outcome levels. Many of these evaluations assume that if the intended changes occur, the result represents an improvement. However, given the systemic nature of clinical practice, a change in one area can produce changes in other areas as well, some of which may adversely affect the patient. Balancing measures are used to determine whether unintended consequences of an intervention have been introduced into other areas of the system. The aims of this study were to evaluate the impact of behavior change intervention-based continuing professional development (CPD) on pharmacist interventions (resolution of drug therapy problems-DTPs) and resolution of quality indicator DTPs and knowledge change for urinary tract infections (UTI) and pneumonia. As a balancing measure, we aimed to determine whether delivery of behavior change interventions targeting pneumonia and UTI practice results in a negative impact on other important pharmacist interventions, specifically the resolution of heart failure DTPs. METHODS: A quasiexperimental study was conducted at a Canadian health authority that evaluated the impacts of an 8-week multifaceted behavior change intervention delivered to 58 ward-based pharmacists. The primary outcome was change in proportion of UTI and pneumonia DTPs resolved from the 6-month preintervention to 6-month postintervention phase. Secondary outcomes were changes in proportion of UTI and pneumonia quality indicator DTPs resolved, knowledge quiz scores, and proportion of quality indicator DTPs resolved for heart failure as a balancing measure. RESULTS: A total of 58 pharmacists were targets of the intervention. The proportion of resolved UTI and pneumonia DTPs increased from 17.8 to 27.2% (relative risk increase 52.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 42.8-63.6%; P < 0.05). The proportion of resolved UTI and pneumonia quality indicator DTPs increased from 12.2% to 18.2% (relative risk increase 49.9%, 95% CI 34.5-67.0%; P < 0.05). Resolved heart failure DTPs decreased from 14.3 to 8.5% (RRR 40.4%, 95% CI 33.9-46.2%; P < 0.05). Thirty-six pharmacists completed the pre- and post-quiz. Scores increased from 11.3/20 ± 3.2/20 to 14.8/20 ± 2.9/20 (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION: CPD using a multifaceted behavior change intervention improved pharmacist behavior and knowledge for UTI and pneumonia. However, these improvements may be offset by reduced interventions for other disease states, such as heart failure. Strategies to mitigate the unintended effects on other professional behaviors should be implemented when delivering CPD focused on changing one aspect of professional behavior.

Evaluation of the Diabetes, Multidisciplinary, Experiential (DIAMANTE) Program for Retail Pharmacists: A Mixed-Method Study.

INTRODUCTION: The Diabetes, Multidisciplinary, Experiential (DIAMANTE) program was established to enhance collaboration between retail pharmacists and the diabetes care team in the health institutions through interprofessional education. This article describes the program and reports on an evaluation of its impact on attitudes, knowledge, and confidence of the participants in managing diabetic patients. METHODS: This study utilized a mixed-method design with focus group (FG), exit assessment, and survey. Ten participants were approached to complete the 2-week DIAMANTE program with hands-on training from a multidisciplinary diabetes team. In addition to an exit assessment and a pre-post online survey to assess attitudes of participants toward diabetes care, diabetes knowledge, and confidence in managing diabetic patients, FG was used to obtain the qualitative feedback of pharmacists. Feedback of the preceptors related to the program and pharmacist performance was also sought through an online survey. Survey data and FGs were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and thematic analysis, respectively. RESULTS: All participants completed the program successfully. The FGs revealed four themes: program design, participants' view on preceptors, participants' perceptions of program benefits, and program's outlook. Participants perceived the program content as comprehensive and relevant. With experiential learning, the pharmacists reported improved counseling skills and increased understanding of the roles of different healthcare members. Their knowledge and confidence in managing diabetic patients was improved (P = .008). All participants passed the exit assessment. In general, the preceptors were satisfied with the program design, assessment content, and participant performance. DISCUSSION: The overall view of DIAMANTE appeared positive. The program also improved knowledge and confidence of the participants in managing diabetic patients.

Current and Future Opportunities and Challenges in Continuing Pharmacy Education.

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) convened a consensus-seeking invitational conference on October 29-30, 2015, in Chicago, Ill. ACPE's desire to have stakeholder guidance on its role in the future of continuing pharmacy education and continuing professional development led to the convening of the conference. The purpose of this article is to summarize the proceedings of the conference, including the recommendations from the stakeholders.

An evaluation of the translation of continuing education into diabetes public health care by pharmacists.

Background Pharmacists are assuming greater public health roles and partaking in continuing education to advance knowledge and skills necessary for the provision of this patient care. Objective We sought to determine what conditions in a Middle East context influence how community pharmacists actually incorporate new information into practice. Setting Community pharmacies in Qatar. Methods A continuing professional development (CPD) program regarding the management of fasting diabetes patients during Ramadan was developed and delivered. Participants then maintained a record of their patient encounters when attempting to screen fasting diabetes patients for risk and offer medication, lifestyle, and monitoring advice. Diary entries were coded using inductive methods and follow-up focus group discussion was conducted to further corroborate the thematic analysis. Main outcome measure Facilitators and barriers to care. Results Forty-one pharmacists attended the CPD program and 35 subsequently made at least one diary entry during the 3-weeks preceding and during Ramadan. One-hundred and forty-eight submitted records and the transcript of one focus group (n = 6) were analyzed. Three main factors were found to influence pharmacists' ability to engage use new knowledge and skills: situational, patient, and pharmacist. Patient reception was the overwhelming influence whereby positive interactions encouraged pharmacists to continue screening and counseling attempts, but difficult encounters were negative reinforcing stimuli in almost equal measure. Conclusion In this Middle East setting, environmental factors play a considerable role in the pharmacists' ability to engage in public health care and reinforce that continuing education for health professionals must be closely aligned with the realities of practice and purposefully considered as part of its evaluation.

Forty Years of ACPE CPE Accreditation.

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) Provider Accreditation Program has been in existence for 40 years. During this time, the program has expanded and has been offered to a various types of providers, not only academic-based providers. ACPE credit has been offered to an increasing number of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other health professionals. This paper explains the evolution of the CPE Provider Accreditation Program, including the Definition of Continuing Education for the Profession of Pharmacy, its standards, types of activities (knowledge, application, and practice), CPE Monitor, Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Education and Assessment of Pharmacists on the Use of the Drug Burden Index in Older Adults Using a Continuing Professional Development Education Method.

Objective. To educate pharmacists and assess their knowledge of and ability to calculate the Drug Burden Index (DBI) using a continuing professional development (CPD) intervention. Methods. The intervention included designing education surrounding the DBI and its application in practice and assessing knowledge in the form of a CPD education article with four multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Deidentified demographic data on participants were collected. Results. Multiple-choice questions were completed by 2522 pharmacist participants: 97.9% of participants successfully completed the CPD assessment (answered three or four MCQs correctly), and 76.5% of participants achieved a perfect score (answered four MCQs correctly). The question that required calculation of the DBI for a fictional patient was answered correctly least often (81.8%). Conclusion. Pharmacist participants had good knowledge of using DBI in practice; difficulty was observed in calculating the DBI for a hypothetical patient. This CPD intervention provided a practical medium for educating and assessing pharmacists' knowledge of the DBI.

Got CER? Educating Pharmacists for Practice in the Future: New Tools for New Challenges.

BACKGROUND: Understanding how treatments work in the real world and in real patients is an important and complex task. In recent years, comparative effectiveness research (CER) studies have become more available for health care providers to inform evidence-based decision making. There is variability in the strengths and limitations of this new evidence, and researchers and decision makers are faced with challenges when assessing the quality of these new methods and CER studies. OBJECTIVES: To (a) describe an online tool developed by the CER Collaborative, composed of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, and the National Pharmaceutical Council, and (b) provide an early evaluation of the training program impact on learners' self-reported abilities to evaluate and incorporate CER studies into their decision making. METHODS: To encourage greater transparency, consistency, and uniformity in the development and assessment of CER studies, the CER Collaborative developed an online tool to assist researchers, new and experienced clinicians, and decision makers in producing and evaluating CER studies. A training program that supports the use of the online tool was developed to improve the ability and confidence of individuals to apply CER study findings in their daily work. Seventy-one health care professionals enrolled in 3 separate cohorts for the training program. Upon completion, learners assessed their abilities to interpret and apply findings from CER studies by completing on online evaluation questionnaire. RESULTS: The first 3 cohorts of learners to complete the training program consisted of 71 current and future health care practitioners and researchers. At completion, learners indicated high confidence in their CER evidence assessment abilities (mean = 4.2). Learners reported a 27.43%-59.86% improvement in capabilities to evaluate various CER studies and identify study design flaws (mean evaluation before CER Certificate Program [CCP] scores = 1.86-3.14 and post-CCP scores = 3.92-4.24). Additionally, 63% of learners indicated that they expected to increase their use of evidence from CER studies in at least 1-2 problem decisions per month. CONCLUSIONS: The CER Collaborative has responded to the need for increased practitioner training to improve understanding and application of new CER studies. The CER Collaborative tool and certificate training program are innovative solutions to help decision makers meet the challenges they face in honing their skills to best incorporate credible and relevant CER evidence into their decision making. DISCLOSURES: The CER Collaborative, the development of the questionnaires and web-based tool, and the development of the CER Certificate Program were supported by grants and in-kind contributions from the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC). The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy conducted its work under a contract with the AMCP Foundation and grant funding from the NPC. Perfetto is employed by the University of Maryland and the National Health Council and serves as assistant editor for the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, consults for Avelere, and serves as a member of advisory boards for the PQA and CMTP. Pickering received support from the NPC for activities related to this research. Eichelberger is employed by the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. Eichelberger and Graff are with the CER Collaborative. Graff is employed by the National Pharmaceutical Council. Study concept and design were primarily contributed by Perfetto, Graff, and Eichelberger, along with Anyanwu and assisted by Pickering and Ward Zaghab. Pickering and Ward Zaghab took the lead in data collection, with assistance from the other authors, and data interpretation was performed by Perfetto, Graff, Pickering, and Ward Zaghab, with assistance from the other authors. The manuscript was written by Perfetto and Anyanwu, with assistance from the other authors, and revised by Graff, Perfetto, Anyanwu, and Pickering, assisted by Eichelberger and Ward Zaghab.

Unraveling Motivational Profiles of Health Care Professionals for Continuing Education: The Example of Pharmacists in the Netherlands.

INTRODUCTION: Continuing education (CE) can support health care professionals in maintaining and developing their knowledge and competencies. Although lack of motivation is one of the most important barriers of pharmacists' participation in CE, we know little about the quality or the quantity of motivation. We used the self-determination theory, which describes autonomous motivation (AM) as originating from within an individual and controlled motivation (CM) as originating from external factors, as a framework for this study. Our aim was to obtain insight into the quality and quantity of pharmacists' motivation for CE. METHODS: The scores of 425 pharmacists on Academic Motivation Scale were subjected to K-means cluster analysis to generate motivational profiles. RESULTS: We unraveled four motivational profiles: (1) good quality with high AM/low CM, (2) high quantity with high AM/high CM, (3) poor quality with low AM/high CM, and (4) low quantity with low AM/low CM. Female pharmacists, pharmacists working in a hospital pharmacy, pharmacists working for more than 10 years, and pharmacists not in training were highly represented in the good-quality profile. Pharmacists working in a community pharmacy, pharmacists working for less than 10 years, and pharmacists in training were highly represented in the high-quantity profile. Male pharmacists were more or less equally distributed over the four profiles. The highest percentage of pharmacy owners was shown in the low-quantity profile, and the highest percentage of the nonowners was shown in the good-quality profile. DISCUSSION: Pharmacists exhibit different motivational profiles, which are associated with their background characteristics, such as gender, ownership of business, practice setting, and current training. Motivational profiles could be used to tailor CE courses for pharmacists.