title: A 3-armed randomized controlled trial of nurses' continuing education meetings on adverse drug reactions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nurses' insufficient knowledge of adverse drug reactions is reported as a barrier to spontaneous reporting. Therefore, CE meetings could be utilized to enhance nurses' competencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a 3-armed randomized controlled trial, 496 nurses, working in a tertiary medical center, were randomly allocated to a didactic lecture, brainstorming workshop, or the control group (delayed education). Similar instructors (2 clinical pharmacists) prepared and delivered the educational content to all 3 groups. Outcomes were declarative/procedural knowledge (primary outcome), participation rate, and satisfaction. Knowledge was evaluated using a validated researcher-made questionnaire in 3 time points: immediately before, immediately after, and 3 months after each session. Participants' satisfaction was assessed immediately after each meeting via a standard tool. Data were analyzed using appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rate of participation was 37.7% for the lecture group and 47.5% for the workshop group. The workshop participants were significantly more satisfied in comparison with the lecture group (p < .05). Mean knowledge scores were similar at baseline in the 3 study groups (43-47). Immediately after the meeting, knowledge was significantly higher in the lecture group (79.1 ± 11.9 vs 73.7 ± 11.3; p = .01). At the follow-up, knowledge scores of the lecture and workshop groups were similar, while significantly higher than the control group. However, the reduction of knowledge score was significantly higher in the lecture group (-13.0 ± 15.9% vs -5.7 ± 15.1%, p = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educational interventions can improve nurses' knowledge of adverse drug reactions. Short-term learning could be achieved with lecture, but the retention of knowledge will be enhanced by simple interactive techniques.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarayani
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naderi-Behdani
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hadavand
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Javadi
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farsad
authors.forename: Molouk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadjibabaie
authors.forename: Kheirollah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gholami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D061214:Patient Safety; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012107:Research Design; D013663:Teaching
keywords: adverse drug reaction; cardiovascular medication; continuing education; evaluation-educational intervention; experimental/quasi-experimental design; patient safety; pharmacovigilance; profession-nurse