Pharmacy Educators’ Knowledge of Medication Safety and Their Perception Toward Its Integration into the Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum in Saudi Arabia

• Published in: American journal of pharmaceutical education Vol. 81; no. 2; p. 30
• Main Authors: Alkatheri, Abdulmalik M., Bustami, Rami, Albekairy, Abdulkareem M., Almodaimegh, Hind, Alghamdi, Sahar, Alharbi, Shemylan, Khalidi, Nabil, Murphy, John E., Qandil, Amjad M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 25.03.2017; Elsevier Limited; American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
• Subjects: Academic Degrees; Attitude of Health Personnel; Attrition (Research Studies); College Curriculum; Construct Validity; Curriculum; doctor of pharmacy curriculum; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions - prevention & control; Education, Pharmacy, Graduate - methods; Educational Change; Experiential Learning; Faculty, Pharmacy; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hospitals; Human error; Humans; Knowledge Level; Likert Scales; Male; Medical errors; medication safety; Patient safety; Patients; Perception; Perceptions; Pharmaceutical Education; Pharmacy; pharmacy education; Physicians; Questionnaires; Research Committees; Saudi Arabia; Schools, Pharmacy; Students; Students, Pharmacy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teaching Methods; Validity; Saudi Arabia; doctor of pharmacy curriculum; patient safety; medication safety; pharmacy education
• ISSN: 0002-9459; 1553-6467
• DOI: 10.5688/ajpe81230

Objective. To assess pharmacy educators’ knowledge of medication safety and their perception toward its integration into the PharmD curriculum in Saudi Arabia. Methods. A survey was administered to pharmacy educators at a college of pharmacy and its affiliate hospital. Knowledge, training, and perception toward integrating medication safety into the PharmD curriculum were evaluated. Results. More than 50% of respondents indicated that medication safety should be covered within selected courses, and 65% indicated that such courses should be mandatory. Pharmacy practice educators had significantly higher levels of knowledge about medication safety than their nonpractice counterparts. Perceptions toward medication safety integration into the curriculum varied significantly by general discipline, academic degree, years of experience, and gender. Conclusion. Pharmacy educators in Saudi Arabia understand the importance of medication safety and its integration into the curriculum. Further studies are needed to guide curricular change to achieve this integration.