Student Pharmacist Perspectives of a Remote Ambulatory Care and Community Pharmacy Dual-Cohort APPE

Abstract

Objective The primary aim of the study is to describe the development and implementation of a remote required ambulatory care and required community pharmacy dual-cohort Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotation from the student pharmacist perspective. The secondary objective is to identify elements of a remote APPE to integrate into traditional onsite rotations. Methods An electronic post-survey was developed to evaluate rotation effectiveness based on the Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) outcomes, and to identify rotation attributes to inform future rotations. Students from different graduating classes on rotation between April and June 2020 participated in the survey. Likert-scale, ranked-response, and fixed-answer-choice questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and comparisons between cohorts and rotation groups were completed using the Chi-squared statistic (alpha .05). Open-ended questions were assessed for recurring themes. Study was exempted by university’s Institutional Review Board. Results Twenty-four of 45 invited students completed the survey (53% response rate). Of the surveyed CAPE outcomes, agreement was highest (95.7%) that the rotation improved students’ abilities within 1.1 Learner, 2.2 Manager, and 4.4 Professional subdomains. Diversity of experiences and topic discussions were elements most frequently identified for inclusion in future rotations. Conclusion Student feedback was largely positive and indicated the remote APPE rotation experience was meaningful and improved abilities on key CAPE outcomes. Although remote rotations are unique, aspects including diverse learning experiences and preceptor collaboration may be considered for integration into traditional onsite rotations.

Exploring Feedback Mechanics during Experiential Learning in Pharmacy Education: A Scoping Review

“…After removing duplicates (n = 521), titles and abstracts of 822 articles were screened, resulting in 27 full-text articles being retrieved and reviewed for eligibility against inclusion and exclusion criteria. This yielded 13 articles [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] that were subsequently included in this review.…”

“…Hatcher, 2022 [27] Application of knowledge through activities such as topic discussions and patient case presentations…”

Does one size fit all? A survey of preceptor perceptions and experiences with remote rotations

“…Several participants suggested creating a student community of practice to foster social well-being and shared learning. Similarly, findings from a survey of students who completed remote ambulatory care and community pharmacy APPE rotations rated their online learning sessions with preceptors and students highly (Hatcher et al, 2022). This format allowed them to collaborate with peers and gain a diversity of perspectives from preceptors from multiple practice sites.…”