Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: There is in dire need for up-to-date clinical information for doctors. However, medical education is provided to a great extent by pharmaceutical companies and hence there is a high risk of biased information. A new way to provide evidence-based education on pharmacotherapy to a wide audience of health professionals is needed.
Objectives: To present controversial topics in drug therapy. To provide useful evidence-based education for patient care providers. To demonstrate the need for evidence-based pharmacotherapy and to get practitioners involved in evidence-based decision making.
Methods: An annual two-day Drug Therapy Course organised by the Drug Information Unit of the Navarre Health Service in Spain took place in 2009. Five topics were addressed in each of the two scheduled sessions (10 topics total). Criteria for selection of themes: sharply defined, current controversy or new evidence, wide interest, variety. Features of the course:-Accessibility: Free, scheduled during off-duty days. Accredited for continuing medical education. Peer teaching: Lecturers were professionals involved in day-to-day patient care or knowledgable about pharmacotherapy. Lecturers who were solely academics or researchers were not considered. Group interaction was promoted. Length or time: Short-duration conferences consisting of a 20-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute discussion. Evaluation of each conference. Cost-consciousness: Lecturers were paid €90 for each presentation. Conference room was provided for free by the Government of Navarre. All educational materials were available in the web-site, www.bit.navarra.es. Independent: Free of sponsorship.
Results: Participants: Year 2009: 140; Year 2010: 127; Year 2011: 170. Profession of attendees (Figure1). Conferences global evaluation (122 responses): Bad: 1% Fair: 14% Good: 54% Very good: 31%.
Conclusions: It is feasible to provide education that is independent of pharmaceutical company sponsorship on pharmacotherapy to a wide audience of health professionals in a constrained resources setting. There is good acceptability of short conferences about new or controversial topics given by non-academic clinicians in an enviroment that facilitates participation.
Objectives: To present controversial topics in drug therapy. To provide useful evidence-based education for patient care providers. To demonstrate the need for evidence-based pharmacotherapy and to get practitioners involved in evidence-based decision making.
Methods: An annual two-day Drug Therapy Course organised by the Drug Information Unit of the Navarre Health Service in Spain took place in 2009. Five topics were addressed in each of the two scheduled sessions (10 topics total). Criteria for selection of themes: sharply defined, current controversy or new evidence, wide interest, variety. Features of the course:-Accessibility: Free, scheduled during off-duty days. Accredited for continuing medical education. Peer teaching: Lecturers were professionals involved in day-to-day patient care or knowledgable about pharmacotherapy. Lecturers who were solely academics or researchers were not considered. Group interaction was promoted. Length or time: Short-duration conferences consisting of a 20-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute discussion. Evaluation of each conference. Cost-consciousness: Lecturers were paid €90 for each presentation. Conference room was provided for free by the Government of Navarre. All educational materials were available in the web-site, www.bit.navarra.es. Independent: Free of sponsorship.
Results: Participants: Year 2009: 140; Year 2010: 127; Year 2011: 170. Profession of attendees (Figure1). Conferences global evaluation (122 responses): Bad: 1% Fair: 14% Good: 54% Very good: 31%.
Conclusions: It is feasible to provide education that is independent of pharmaceutical company sponsorship on pharmacotherapy to a wide audience of health professionals in a constrained resources setting. There is good acceptability of short conferences about new or controversial topics given by non-academic clinicians in an enviroment that facilitates participation.
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