Effect of a seminar on pharmacy student attitudes toward residency training

Abstract

A mandatory one-hour seminar on residencies did not influence pharmacy students' opinions of and plans for residency training, but it did identify factors affecting their decisions.

Factors Influencing Fourth-Year Pharmacy Students’ Decisions to Pursue a Hospital Pharmacy Residency

“…Potential gains in knowledge, experience, and selfconfidence are often reported as being among the most influential factors identified by respondents of comparable US surveys. [10][11][12] Recognizing that working in a hospital requires additional training and expertise because of the complexity of the pharmacotherapy regimens of admitted patients might partially explain these responses. Students may feel that, without a residency, they do not have the appropriate skills to work in a hospital setting and they want to gain more knowledge and experience in pharmacotherapy and pathophysiology from the courses and experiential rotations that are part of the residency program.…”

“…Data on such factors are available for the United States. [10][11][12][13][14] However, in Canada, such an evaluation has not been performed. Therefore, a survey was designed and conducted to identify motivators and barriers influencing fourth-year pharmacy students in their decision of whether to pursue hospital pharmacy residency training.…”

An Elective Course on Postgraduate Residency Training

“…These often include informational handouts or brochures and 1-hour lectures, discussions, or seminars, and most often occur in the last year of the curriculum. [6][7][8][9][10][11] More recently, a preparatory seminar for fourth-year students on interviewing for residency positions has been described. 12 Studies that have evaluated the factors affecting completion of residency programs have recommended that instruction concerning residency training should occur early in the curriculum.…”

An Advanced Clinical Track Within a Doctor of Pharmacy Program

“…1 To meet that standard, colleges and schools of pharmacy have used various techniques to heighten student awareness of postgraduate pharmacy training such as providing online information, 2 brochures and faculty presentations as part of a career day program, 3 mandatory seminars, 4 and informational handouts with an associated educational forum, 5 as well as offering more comprehensive programs involving an array of presentations and modules pertaining to residency training and the application process. 6 The most common methods of promoting residency and fellowship training include providing formal and informal instruction, making referrals to preceptors, and involving residents and fellows in clerkship teaching.…”