title: A comparison of computer-assisted instruction and printed information as methods of pharmacy continuing education.
abstract: A continuing education (CE) program was developed to teach hospital pharmacists parameters for monitoring adult total parenteral nutrition (TPN) patients. The effectiveness of a computer-assisted instruction (CAI) module as a method of CE was compared with that of printed information (PI). The computer program was developed using an Apple IIe personal computer and Apple Pilot. Forty-nine hospital pharmacists were given a pretest, the CAI or PI program, a posttest immediately after the instruction, and a retention test 2 weeks later. The CAI group (n = 23) had mean test scores of 53.3% for the pretest, 87.7% for the posttest, and 81.9% for the retention test. The PI group (n = 26) had mean test scores of 54.2% for the pretest, 84.7% for the posttest, and 78.2% for the retention test. Both methods were effective CE programs based on increases in mean test scores from pretest to posttest. Retention-test scores showed a statistically significant drop from posttest scores for each group. A comparison of mean retention-test scores with mean pretest scores for each group demonstrated that participants in each group had retained a statistically significant amount of material from baseline knowledge. When differences in mean pretest, posttest, and retention-test scores were compared between the two groups, no statistically significant differences were found. CAI and PI were equally effective methods of continuing education.
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital; D011996:Records