Development and evaluation of a web-based educational toolkit on knowledge, attitudes, and practices of psychiatric prescribers regarding long-acting injectable antipsychotics

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are underutilized pharmacological treatment options for those with schizophrenia. Research examining psychiatric prescribers' relationship with LAIs hypothesized that their knowledge deficits, uninformed attitudes, and poor prescribing practices contribute to the underutilization of LAIs in clinical practice. There is a gap in the literature regarding educational interventions to address psychiatric prescribers' knowledge deficits, uninformed attitudes, and poor prescribing practices. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) research project, based on the Knowledge to Action Framework, was to develop and evaluate the impact of a web-based educational toolkit on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of psychiatric prescribers. A seven-part web-based module that included a presentation of the created educational toolkit regarding LAIs and a before and after knowledge, attitudes, and practices questionnaire was hosted on an online-open source learning management system and disseminated to psychiatric prescribers. Findings indicated that the web-based educational toolkit slightly improved the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of psychiatric prescribers regarding LAIs. It also revealed a relationship between a positive change in attitudes and psychiatric prescribers practicing in a hospital setting. This DNP research project reflects the essentials of the DNP degree. It contributes to the body of knowledge of psychiatric nursing, created a lasting reference tool for prescribing LAIs, filled gaps in the literature regarding LAIs, supports the use of continuing web-based education and toolkits, and serves as a catalyst for other studies regarding LAIs.