title: Individualized education and competency development of Croatian community pharmacists using the general level framework.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure Croatian community pharmacists' progress in competency development using the General Level Framework (GLF) as an educational tool in a longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient care competencies of 100 community pharmacists were evaluated twice, in 2009 and in 2010 in a prospective cohort study. During this 12-month period, tailored educational programs based on the GLF were organized and conducted, new services and standard operating procedures were implemented, and documentation of contributions to patient care in the pharmacist's portfolio became mandatory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pharmacists' development of all GLF patient care competencies was significant with the greatest improvements seen in the following competencies: patient consultation, monitoring drug therapy, medicine information and patient education, and evaluation of outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study, which retested the effectiveness of an evidence-based competency framework, confirmed that GLF is a valid educational tool for pharmacist development.
authors.affiliation: Farmacia Education Centre, Zagreb, Croatia. arijana.mestrovic@atlantic.hr
authors.forename: Arijana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meštrović
authors.forename: Zivka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Staničić
authors.forename: Maja Ortner
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Hadžiabdić
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mucalo
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duggan
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Miljenko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Košiček
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D017523:Croatia; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D005791:Patient Care; D010594:Pharmacies; D010595:Pharmacists; D024382:Professional Role; D011446:Prospective Studies