Self-assessed proficiency and application of various skills learned during postgraduate pharmacy teaching skills development programs

Abstract 

The purpose of this study was to identify teaching skills commonly taught during the postgraduate pharmacy teaching skills development programs, to describe trainees' perceived teaching proficiency, and the extent to which the learned teaching skills are applied in trainees' current positions. An online survey was developed for pharmacists who completed postgraduate teaching skills development programs. The survey included demographic and program queries as well as questions on 23 teaching skills. Participants self-assessed their proficiency in and application of their learned teaching skills. The online survey resulted in 122 qualified responses. After training, the perceived proficiency in nearly all 23 teaching skills was high; however, the scores for application of teaching skills were significantly lower. A majority (91.7%) of survey respondents were engaged in experiential education. There is wide variability among the postgraduate pharmacy teaching skills development programs. Though the trainees perceived their proficiency in teaching skills to be high, the acquired teaching skills were underused.

Keywords: Teaching skills, Postgraduate training, Pharmacy education