Abstract
Herbs and dietary supplements (HDS) are widely used, and health professionals are in an ideal position to educate patients about them. However, it is sometimes difficult to evaluate their risks and benefits with limited information and what is worse, many health professionals in Japan are unconcerned with HDS. Therefore, we aimed to develop an internet-based educational system to periodically provide information about HDS to medical doctors and pharmacists in order to increase their awareness. Monographs about selected HDS, accompanied with educational quizzes, were prepared to meet pharmacists' needs. Examples of clinical Q&A cases about drug interactions involving HDS were prepared. The material was distributed weekly to registered health professionals by e-mail and via WWW pages. Two hundred and forty-four health professionals evaluated the system by questionnaire. The questionnaire results revealed that 1) more than 75% of responders evaluated the system as useful, 2) compilation of information into educational quizzes and cases encouraged health professionals to learn about HDS with less difficulty, and 3) e-mails led them to learn periodically and to be more concerned about the safety of HDS. In conclusion, the developed information system for HDS was proved to be useful and should serve to improve the understanding of health professionals about this issue.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 773-780 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Yakugaku Zasshi |
| Volume | 129 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 Jun |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Dietary supplement
- Herb
- Internet
- Learning system
- Medical doctor
- Pharmacist
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceutical Science
Cite this
Development and evaluation of an internet-based educational system about herbs and dietary supplements through periodical distribution of information to health professionals. / Asahina, Yasuko; Hori, Satoko; Ohtani, Hisakazu; Sawada, Yasufumi.
In: Yakugaku Zasshi, Vol. 129, No. 6, 06.2009, p. 773-780.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Development and evaluation of an internet-based educational system about herbs and dietary supplements through periodical distribution of information to health professionals
AU - Asahina, Yasuko
AU - Hori, Satoko
AU - Ohtani, Hisakazu
AU - Sawada, Yasufumi
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - Herbs and dietary supplements (HDS) are widely used, and health professionals are in an ideal position to educate patients about them. However, it is sometimes difficult to evaluate their risks and benefits with limited information and what is worse, many health professionals in Japan are unconcerned with HDS. Therefore, we aimed to develop an internet-based educational system to periodically provide information about HDS to medical doctors and pharmacists in order to increase their awareness. Monographs about selected HDS, accompanied with educational quizzes, were prepared to meet pharmacists' needs. Examples of clinical Q&A cases about drug interactions involving HDS were prepared. The material was distributed weekly to registered health professionals by e-mail and via WWW pages. Two hundred and forty-four health professionals evaluated the system by questionnaire. The questionnaire results revealed that 1) more than 75% of responders evaluated the system as useful, 2) compilation of information into educational quizzes and cases encouraged health professionals to learn about HDS with less difficulty, and 3) e-mails led them to learn periodically and to be more concerned about the safety of HDS. In conclusion, the developed information system for HDS was proved to be useful and should serve to improve the understanding of health professionals about this issue.
AB - Herbs and dietary supplements (HDS) are widely used, and health professionals are in an ideal position to educate patients about them. However, it is sometimes difficult to evaluate their risks and benefits with limited information and what is worse, many health professionals in Japan are unconcerned with HDS. Therefore, we aimed to develop an internet-based educational system to periodically provide information about HDS to medical doctors and pharmacists in order to increase their awareness. Monographs about selected HDS, accompanied with educational quizzes, were prepared to meet pharmacists' needs. Examples of clinical Q&A cases about drug interactions involving HDS were prepared. The material was distributed weekly to registered health professionals by e-mail and via WWW pages. Two hundred and forty-four health professionals evaluated the system by questionnaire. The questionnaire results revealed that 1) more than 75% of responders evaluated the system as useful, 2) compilation of information into educational quizzes and cases encouraged health professionals to learn about HDS with less difficulty, and 3) e-mails led them to learn periodically and to be more concerned about the safety of HDS. In conclusion, the developed information system for HDS was proved to be useful and should serve to improve the understanding of health professionals about this issue.
KW - Dietary supplement
KW - Herb
KW - Internet
KW - Learning system
KW - Medical doctor
KW - Pharmacist
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67649183175&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67649183175&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1248/yakushi.129.773
DO - 10.1248/yakushi.129.773
M3 - Article
VL - 129
SP - 773
EP - 780
JO - Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
JF - Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
SN - 0031-6903
IS - 6
ER -