Qualitative analysis of students' attitudes of duration of community pharmacy practice experiences
Abstract
Objective
To gain insight into the perceived benefit of one continuous 10-week Advanced Community Pharmacy Practice Experience (ACPPE) versus two five-week ACPPEs, through qualitative focus group research.
Methods
Students were randomly assigned to spend either two five-week practice experiences at different community sites or one continuous 10-week rotation (at the same site) during their fourth professional year. Afterward, three student focus groups were convened to elicit responses to four questions related to: (1) optimal duration for an ACPPE, (2) description of the community care project they delivered, (3) students' perceived advantages or disadvantages of their sites, and (4) barriers to successfully completing a community care project.
Results
Students unanimously preferred two five-week rotations. Pharmacies with supportive staff and preceptors, ample space, pharmacy residents, or MTM programs were perceived advantages. There was a variety of community care projects developed. The most frequently reported barrier to the ACPPE project involved the preceptor's limited support of the project, unwillingness to continue the project long-term, or not communicating the purpose of the project to pharmacy staff. Other barriers included physical design of the pharmacy, both high and low prescription volume, and poor support from pharmacy management in chain pharmacies.
Conclusion
Improvements to ACPPE sites, including preceptor training and elimination of barriers to the development of the ACPPE project, might change student perception and thus should be implemented before replacing two shorter experiences within the 10-week rotation.
Wingate University School of Pharmacy, Wingate, NC
Corresponding author. Lisa Smith, PharmD, BCPS, Assistant Professor, Director of Advanced Pharmacy Practice, Wingate University School of Pharmacy, Campus Box 3087, 316 N. Main Street, Wingate, NC 28174
ABSTRACT