Exploring the perceptions and barriers of nurses working in remote areas on tele-educational delivery of pharmacy knowledge in Henan, China: a qualitative study

BMJ Open. 2022 Feb 8;12(2):e051365. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051365.

Abstract

Objective: There are insufficient educational resources and opportunities available to nurses at county-level medical institutions in China to receive pharmacy knowledge education. Video conference pharmacy education (VCPE) has become a solution. However, a few studies have explored the perceptions of nurses participating in VCPE. The study was aimed to explore the perceptions of nurses participating in VCPE at county-level medical institutions in remote areas in China. The barriers and suggestions to improve the VCPE were also assessed.

Setting: The study was conducted in two county-level hospitals in Henan, China.

Design and participants: This qualitative study comprises two focus group discussions. Twenty-three nurses from two county-level hospitals in Henan province participated in the interview in May 2019.

Results: The average age of our participants was 34.83±6.24 years old (from 26 to 55 years old). By deeply analysing the data, the following four domains were extracted: Four themes were extracted on VCPE from this qualitative study: (1) the pharmacy knowledge gains from VCPE, (2) the shortcomings VCPE, (3) the advantages of the VCPE and (4) the expectations and suggestions for the VCPE.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate VCPE is a valuable tool to provide education to nurses working at remote area county-level institutions. The results contribute to improvements in future VCPE deliveries.

Keywords: medical education & training; primary care; qualitative research.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • China
  • Education, Pharmacy*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pharmaceutical Services*
  • Pharmacy*
  • Qualitative Research