Educating Australian pharmacists about the use of online information in community pharmacy practice

Objectives: Community pharmacists practice in an information technology-rich society, however many have not been educated in internet use for professional practice. The aims of this study were to investigate how community pharmacists use the internet in their practice; to develop an intervention to address their educational needs; and to examine the benefits and weakness of a flexible delivery programme. Method: We conducted two focus groups investigating community pharmacists' internet use and education needs. We subsequently developed and provided a four-module educational course on CD ROM, 'Advanced web skills for pharmacists: finding quality on the internet'. In total, 147 pharmacists participated. A survey was conducted to evaluate the impact of the course. Key findings: The focus group findings provided a clear rationale for an educational intervention. One-hundred and four pharmacists completed the course. Participating pharmacists were highly positive about the learning experience, in particular the provision of education by flexible delivery. Many reported specific changes to practice. They also described the time-consuming nature of the course as the biggest barrier to further education. Conclusions: This project demonstrates the need for community pharmacists to have access to Internet education. Flexible CD ROM-based learning provided a successful delivery medium.