title: A Scenario-Based Virtual Patient Program to Support Substance Misuse Education.
abstract: Objective. To evaluate virtual patient (VP) programs for injecting equipment provision (IEP) and opiate substitution therapy (OST) services with respect to confidence and knowledge among preregistration pharmacist trainees. Methods. Preregistration trainee pharmacists pilot-tested the VP programs and were invited to complete pre/post and 6-month assessments of knowledge and perceived confidence. Results. One hundred six trainees participated and completed the pre/postassessments. Forty-six (43.4%) participants repeated the assessments at six months. Scores in perceived confidence increased in all domains at both time points postprogram. Knowledge scores were greater posteducation than preeducation. Knowledge scores were also greater six months after education than preeducation. Knowledge scores at six months were lower than posteducation for both programs. Conclusion. Virtual patients programs increased preregistration pharmacists' knowledge and confidence with regard to IEP and OST immediately after use and at six months postprogram. There was a loss of clinical knowledge over time but confidence change was sustained.
authors.affiliation: NHS Education for Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zlotos
authors.affiliation: NHS Education for Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: Ailsa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: NHS Lanarkshire, Airbles Road Centre, Motherwell, Scotland.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Digital Design Studio, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D063367:Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*
keywords: e-learning; pharmacy education; simulation; virtual patients; web-based learning