A five-state continuing professional development pilot program for practicing pharmacists.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a structured educational intervention would support pharmacists' utilization of a continuing professional development (CPD) model compared to pharmacist control subjects. METHODS A prospective, randomized, observational case-control study of CPD was conducted in which pharmacists participated in several educational interventions, and study and control groups completed prestudy and poststudy survey instruments. RESULTS Survey data from 57 pharmacists (n = 28 study, n = 29 control) were analyzed and significant outcomes from the CPD stages of reflect, plan, act, evaluate, and record were found between matched study subjects and study and control group comparisons. CONCLUSIONS With appropriate training and support, pharmacists can utilize a CPD approach to their lifelong learning and professional development.