A blended learning program sustains pharmacists' oral health support competency for 15 months: A longitudinal study

The importance of oral health has gained increasing recognition in the recent years owing to its association with numerous systemic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dental checkups are crucial for maintaining and promoting oral health; however, in Japan, a relatively low uptake of dental checkups remains a challenge. Community pharmacists are expected to play a vital role in supporting the health and well-being of local residents; however, they have been observed to be reluctant to provide support in the oral health domain. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a blended learning training program on oral health support aimed at educating pharmacists working in health support pharmacies. The training, which involved online learning and on-site training, covered topics such as the importance of oral health, methods of oral health assessment, and the mechanisms of eating and swallowing. The participants, including a total of 39 pharmacists from across the country, completed surveys before and after the training, as well as at 9 months and 15 months posttraining. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the pharmacists' knowledge, explanatory abilities, and confidence in providing oral health support, and these effects were observed to persist for up to 15 months after the training had ended. In addition, the variety of oral health-related products in pharmacies increased. This blended learning program demonstrates the potential to redefine the role of pharmacists in promoting oral health and contribute to the improvement of oral health among local residents.