title: Pharmacists' perception of synchronous versus asynchronous distance learning for continuing education programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare pharmacists' satisfaction with the content and learning environment of a continuing education program series offered as either synchronous or asynchronous webinars.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 8-lecture series of online presentations on the topic of new drug therapies was offered to pharmacists in synchronous and asynchronous webinar formats. Participants completed a 50-question online survey at the end of the program series to evaluate their perceptions of the distance learning experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-two participants completed the survey instrument (41 participants from the live webinar series and 41 participants from the asynchronous webinar series.) Responses indicated that while both groups were satisfied with the program content, the asynchronous group showed greater satisfaction with many aspects of the learning environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The synchronous and asynchronous webinar participants responded positively regarding the quality of the programming and the method of delivery, but asynchronous participants rated their experience more positively overall.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Buxton
mesh_terms: D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards; D010465:Perception; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards
keywords: continuing education; distance learning; professional development; webinar