Impact of a Management Course for Pharmacists on Their Behaviors and the Health System’s Capacity

Objective. This research aims at understanding the impact of a continuing education course for pharmacists, called Pharmaceutical Service and Access to Medicine Management (PSAMM), which focused on the development of management competences in a public health system. Methods. Data collection happened through individual interviews with pharmacists who work in the Brazilian public health system, focus groups, and records of researchers’ observations. The analysis was based on models of learning and training evaluation theory. Results. The results show evidence of outcomes in all levels: proximal outcomes on students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes; behavioral changes; and programmatic outcomes in the organization and management of the health services, promoting the recognition and integration of the pharmaceutical division in the health departments in municipalities and states. The inputs (course’s content, structure, and in-service hands-on activities) were directly linked to the outcomes reported by the participants, overcoming some of the barriers to using knowledge and skills on the workplace. Conclusion. The offer of a well-structured course with active methodologies of practical intervention such as the PSAMM has a positive impact on pharmacists’ behavior and contributes to the capacity building of organizations in which they operate.