Phytonadione education program in a community hospital

Purpose: Pharmacists and physicians were educated regarding updated guidelines on phytonadione indications, dosing, and routes of administration. Study objectives were to evaluate the use of phytonadione in a community hospital, educate pharmacists and physicians about phytonadione use, and assess the value of education in terms of patient outcomes. Methods: Baseline and follow-up data on phytonadione indications, dosages, and routes of administration were collected. Pretests and posttests were administered before and after an education session. A Pharmacy and Therapeutics newsletter article highlighting the appropriate use of phytonadione was published. Results: The baseline and follow-up medication use evaluations (MUEs) revealed that 53% and 62% of patients had an appropriate indication for phytonadione, respectively (P = 0.181). Among patients with an appropriate indication, 44% were administered an appropriate dose in the baseline group and 46% in the follow-up (P = 0.876). The baseline MUE revealed that 20% of phytonadione routes of administration were appropriate; 18% were considered appropriate in the follow-up (P = 0.842). Pharmacists' knowledge showed improvement after education efforts, with the mean score improving from 57% to 93.4% from pretest to posttest (P < 0.05) and the median score changing from 50% to 100%. Conclusion: Improving pharmacists' knowledge is beneficial and necessary; however, it was not enough to change practice in this study. Additional steps must be taken to encourage routine application of the knowledge.