In order to realize effective education concerning Kampo (Japanese traditional medicine),we administered a questionnaire survey to all pharmacists working in Tokushima Prefecture.The respondents were divided into 5 groups designated C1-C5,by cluster analysis based on their knowledge of Kampo.Clusters were characterized by comparing responses.
According to the results of our survey,around 50% of the working pharmacists came under groups C1 and C2.The members of these groups recognized the importance of“lifetime education”concerning Kampo but they did not have opportunities to obtain it.They were also aware that they were doing a poor job in dealing with Kampo.Group C2 had the greatest number of pharmacists in it and since they felt that they were poor in prescription analysis,lectures on unusual usage and the principles underlying them would be valuable.Further,such instruction should be carried out as soon as possible after graduation since there were so many young pharmacists in the C2 group.
As most of the pharmacists working in community pharmacies already had experience in compounding Kampo,they should be provided with lectures which include more advanced level information since they believed that they had a basic understanding of the meaning of Kampo prescriptions.
Awareness of Kampo differed by age group and by the types of facilities pharmacists worked in so it is important to match any practical educational program for them to their working situation.We would also like to emphasize the importance of Kampo education for undergraduate students.
