Changes in knowledge after attending a community pharmacists’ asthma workshop

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists can play an important role in both the detection of asthma and its monitoring in patients with asthma. OBJECTIVE: To assess the change in asthma knowledge, and associated variables, of pharmacists attending the “Pharmacotherapy follow- up of Adult Bronchial Asthma” workshops run by the Pharmaceutical Care Center of Stada Laboratories. METHODS: All participants in the “Pharmacotherapy follow-up of Adult Bronchial Asthma” workshops completed a pre-test and a post-test. Those who left the workshop and those who did not complete the tests were not included in the analysis. Tests were scored from 0 to 10, and the change in scores was analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 90 participating pharmacists, 79 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. 81% (64) were female, and their average age was 38.8 years [CI95%= 36.65-40.81]. The average pre-test score was 3.65 [CI95%=3.29-4.01]; 72.2% of the pharmacists scored less than 5 points. The average post-test score was 7.33 [CI95%=7.01-7.65]. The average change in scores was 3.68 [CI95%=3.29-4.07]. No statistical significance was found between this change in scores and other variables analyzed (age, gender, previous training, or position in the pharmacy). CONCLUSION: CAF Stada “Adult Bronchial Asthma” workshops increased pharmacists’ general knowledge.