(1091) Strategies to Enhancing Continuing Education Programs, Participant Engagement, and Satisfaction: A 14-year Comprehensive Data Analysis

Objectives: In our 14-year study, we aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of diverse strategies implemented to enhance continuing education programs, increase participant numbers, and improve participant satisfaction for pharmacy professionals. Four key objectives guided our investigation. Firstly, we sought to enhance drug therapy management by assessing the impact of our programs on participants' knowledge and skills in this vital area. Secondly, we aimed to understand the influence of our programs on pharmacy practice across diverse settings, including shifts in participant demographics and practice sites. Thirdly, we examined the extent to which our programs promoted patient safety, as perceived by participants. Lastly, we assessed the potential contribution of these programs to public health within the practice of pharmacy. Our study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of these strategies in meeting the evolving needs of pharmacy professionals.

Methods: To achieve these objectives, we implemented a multifaceted approach starting in 2017 and monitored it until 2022. We compared the data from this period with the preceding six years, from 2010 to 2016. Our strategies included offering both on-site and online program delivery to engage a wider audience, establishing collaborative partnerships with accredited institutions and healthcare organizations, surveying participants to tailor content to their preferences, encouraging feedback for continuous improvement, revitalizing our digital presence, integrating essential topics for pharmacy license renewal, and engaging students through work-study programs among various other endeavors.

Results: We conducted an evaluation spanning six years, from 2017 to 2022, during which we implemented our novel strategies. To gauge their effectiveness, we conducted a comparative analysis by juxtaposing this data with a similar timeframe preceding their implementation, specifically encompassing data from 2010 to 2016. Following the implementation of these changes, we witnessed a substantial increase in participation, with approximately 3,000 (n=2797) pharmacy professionals engaging in our programs. This starkly contrasts with the 675 participants we had prior to the study which is over 400% increase. The number of programs exhibited remarkable growth, surging from 133 to 351, representing an increase of over 160%. In assessing participant satisfaction, we focused on four key objectives. Firstly, Objective 1 aimed to enhance drug therapy management, and our analysis unveiled a remarkable increase in participants demonstrating advanced knowledge and skills in this area. A substantial majority (70.3%) expressed strong confidence in the programs' potential to positively influence drug therapy management, with ratings of "Very Likely" or "Likely." Secondly, Objective 2 targeted the impact on pharmacy practice across diverse settings. During the 2017-2022 period, we observed a noticeable shift in participant diversity, with individuals coming from a broader range of practice sites, including professions beyond pharmacy, such as nurses, nurse practitioners, case managers, physicians, and social workers. Thirdly, Objective 3 focused on promoting patient safety. Participants displayed a positive outlook regarding the programs' influence on patient safety, with a significant majority (86.0%) believing the programs were "Very Likely" or "Likely" to positively impact patient safety in their practice. Lastly, Objective 4 aimed to contribute to public health. Approximately 76.4% of participants expressed optimism about the potential of the programs to make a positive contribution to public health, emphasizing their role in enhancing healthcare outcomes on a broader scale.

Conclusions: The analysis of strategies to improve continuing education programs and participant engagement in a pharmacy college demonstrates significant growth in participant capabilities and a positive impact on practice settings, patient safety, and public health. The findings validate the effectiveness of these strategies and underscore the office's commitment to delivering high-quality education in pharmacy and healthcare.