Continuing Professional Development Needs of Community Pharmacists in Qatar: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Abstract

Objective This study aims to assess the educational needs and professional competencies of community pharmacists in Qatar to inform the development of relevant continuing professional development (CPD) programs. Methods A mixed-methods cross-sectional exploratory study targeting community pharmacists was conducted using a questionnaire and an event diary. Descriptive and inferential analyses were utilized to analyze the data using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®) version 21 software. For the event diary, thematic content analysis was used for data analysis. Results Drug information skills and pharmaceutical care process were the most identified topics for inclusion in CPD programs. None of the pharmacists thought that they were competent in core areas of pharmacy practice. Community pharmacists who filled an event diary highlighted the need for development in areas such as communication skills and medication safety. Conclusion The identified needs shall help in developing a CPD program that addresses what community pharmacists perceive as educational and professional training needs.