Open AccessAn Effective Training Program for Registered Sales Clerks Who Sell Over-the-Counter Drugs in Japan: A Preliminary Study
Author(s) -
Nami Nakagawa,
Hiromitsu Okano,
Yuuichi Kyoba,
Seiichiro Yamada,
Hiroaki Suzuki,
Masaaki Tsuda,
Shingo Yano,
Mizue Makimura,
Kazuo Watanab,
Shigeo Yamamura
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
world journal of education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1925-0754
pISSN - 1925-0746
DOI - 10.5430/wje.v8n5p203
Subject(s) - medical education , over the counter , psychology , program design language , medicine , nursing , engineering , medical prescription , software engineering
Purpose: The Japanese healthcare system has designated registered sales clerks to sell over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.Because of this, the AEON HAPYCOM Comprehensive Training Organization implemented an education programto train registered clerks in 2014. The program is unique; it consists of both lectures and hands-on workshopcomponents. We conducted this study as part of a self-evaluation designed to improve the program.Methods: Program participants were asked to respond to an evaluation form upon completion. The form wasdesigned to ascertain student perceptions of the program’s components (e.g., themes, lecturers, materials, and thehands-on workshop) as well as its applicability to their practice of selling OTC drugs.Results: We obtained a total of 6,776 responses from 3,388 participants. On average, each of the program’scomponents were rated highly, with the hands-on workshop being rated the highest. There was a weak relationshipbetween the scores for program preparation and its applicability to OTC sales practices.Conclusion: The program (especially the hands-on workshop component) was highly evaluated by participants.However, we determined that enhancements could be made to the hands-on workshop and other mechanisms toencourage participants to prepare before attending the program.