The Effectiveness of Commitment to Change Statements on Improving Practice Behaviors Following Continuing Pharmacy Education

Objectives

To determine the effectiveness of commitment to change (CTC) statements on behavior or practice change after a continuing pharmacy education (CPE) program, and to assess the percentage of CTC statements that are linked to program objectives.

Methods

Following a CPE program, 33 participants were asked to complete a CTC statement and describe changes that they planned on making in their behavior as preceptors. Six months later participants were asked to return the CTC statement and note the status of the change.

Results

Twenty-eight participants completed the CTC. Twenty-one (75%) participants returned the CTC statement 6 months later with a status report. Seventy percent of the 56 changes described by the 21 participants had been fully implemented. The majority of the changes (88%) matched program objectives.

Conclusion

Writing a CTC statement following completion of a CPE program may positively affect behavior change.