Long-term effectiveness of online anaphylaxis education for pharmacists

Am J Pharm Educ. 2014 Sep 15;78(7):136. doi: 10.5688/ajpe787136.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of an Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) anaphylaxis e-learning program compared to lectures or no training.

Design: A controlled interrupted-time-series study of Australian pharmacists and pharmacy students who completed ASCIA anaphylaxis e-learning or lecture programs was conducted during 2011-2013. Effectiveness was measured using a validated test administered pretraining, posttraining, and 3 and 7 months after training.

Assessment: All learning groups performed significantly better on all posttests compared to the pretest, and compared to a control group (p<0.001). The proportion of e-learners achieving the minimum standard for anaphylaxis knowledge improved from 45% at pretest to 87% at 7 months.

Conclusion: The ASCIA e-learning program significantly increased anaphylaxis knowledge. The high proportion of participants achieving the minimum standard at 7 months indicates long-term knowledge change.

Keywords: Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy; adrenaline auto-injector; e-learning; evaluation; knowledge.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anaphylaxis / drug therapy*
  • Australia
  • Education, Distance / methods
  • Education, Distance / trends*
  • Education, Pharmacy / methods
  • Education, Pharmacy / trends*
  • Educational Measurement / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interrupted Time Series Analysis / methods
  • Interrupted Time Series Analysis / trends*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pharmacists / trends*
  • Young Adult