[Pilot survey on continuing education for pharmacists in Germany]. / Piloterhebung zur Fortbildungssituation der Apotheker*innen in Deutschland.

INTRODUCTION: Continuing education (CE) for pharmacists is mandatory in Germany. However, the findings on CE activities of pharmacists are limited. The aim of this study was to conduct a pilot survey on the CE situation of pharmacists in Germany, including licensed and future pharmacists, to determine the commitment to CE, the attitude towards CE and an obligation to provide evidence, the extent of CE considered necessary and the application of CE content in professional practice. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the form of an online survey using SoSci survey, which was addressed to licensed pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists, and pharmacy students. The online survey was promoted by pharmaceutical professional societies, trade media and interest groups. RESULTS: In total, 880 participants were included in the study: 695 pharmacists, 136 pharmacy students and 49 pre-registration pharmacists. Only 50.0% of the participants were aware of their CE obligations. Among the pharmacists, 44.9% reported that they held the voluntary advanced training certificate issued by the Chambers of Pharmacists. 551 participants reported the CE points of the past twelve month. On average, 56.2 ±â€¯50.2 CE points were collected (x̅ = 210.8 CE minutes per month). Pharmacists not holding the voluntary advanced training certificate of the Chamber of Pharmacists collected significantly fewer (p < 0.001) CE points (39.5 ±â€¯32.0 points; x̅ = 148.1 CE minutes per month). On average, the study population considered a minimum number of 33.9 ±â€¯20.9 CE points per year (x̅ = 127.1 CE minutes per month) to be adequate to meet the CE requirements. DISCUSSION: Although the majority participated in CE, the introduction of nationwide CE commitment monitoring was rejected. On the one hand, this may be linked to a lack of willingness to engage in lifelong learning. On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that, despite the same common nationwide legal basis, the different Chambers of Pharmacists districts have set up different rules concerning the minimum yearly CE commitment, the proof of compliance with CE requirements and fines for non-compliance. Therefore, the introduction of nationwide standard regulations may result in a greater acceptance of CE commitment checks. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists' willingness to CE participation has so far been dependent on intrinsic motivation. Although many licensed pharmacists were in possession of the advanced training certificate issued by the Chambers of Pharmacists, the majority of participants did not support the introduction of a nationwide CE commitment monitoring. 127.1 CE minutes per month were considered appropriate to fulfill the CE obligations, which is significantly less than the 187.5 CE minutes per month which are required to obtain the advanced training certificate of the Chambers of Pharmacists.

Effect of an interprofessional care concept on the hospitalization of nursing home residents: study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The rising number of nursing home (NH) residents and their increasingly complex treatment needs pose a challenge to the German health care system. In Germany, there is no specialized geriatric medical care for NH residents. Nursing staff and general practitioners (GPs) in particular have to compensate for the additional demand, which is compounded by organizational and structural hurdles. As a result, avoidable emergency calls and hospital admissions occur. In the SaarPHIR project (Saarländische PflegeHeimversorgung Integriert Regelhaft), a complex intervention focusing on a medical care concept was developed in a participatory practice-based approach involving NH representatives and GPs. The complex intervention addresses the collaboration between nurses and GPs and aims to help restructure and optimize the existing daily care routine. It is expected to improve the medical care of geriatric patients in NHs and reduce stressful, costly hospital admissions. The intervention was pilot-tested during the first 12 months of the project. In the present study, its effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and safety will be evaluated. METHODS: The study is a cluster-randomized controlled trial, comparing an intervention group with a control group. The intervention includes a concept of interprofessional collaboration, in which GPs group into regional cooperating teams. Teams are encouraged to cooperate more closely with NH staff and to provide on-call schedules, pre-weekend visits, joint team meetings, joint documentation, and improved medication safety. At least 32 NHs in Saarland, Germany (with at least 50 residents each) will be included and monitored for 12 months. The primary endpoint is hospitalization. Secondary endpoints are quality of life, quality of care, and medication safety. The control group receives treatment as usual. Process evaluation and health economic evaluation accompany the study. The data set contains claims data from German statutory health insurance companies as well as primary data. Analysis will be conducted using a generalized linear mixed model. CONCLUSION: A reduction in hospital admissions of NH residents and relevant changes in secondary endpoints are expected. In turn, these will have a positive impact on the economic assessment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00017129. Registered on 23 April 2019. https://www.drks.de/drks_web/setLocale_EN.do.