Marcus Ferrone1, Clark Kebodeaux2, Jill Fitzgerald3, Lisa Holle4. 1. University of California, San Francisco, School of Pharmacy, 3333 California Street, Suite 420, Box 0613, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States. Electronic address: marcus.ferrone@ucsf.edu. 2. St. Louis College of Pharmacy, 4588 Parkview Place, St. Louis, MO 63110-1088, United States. Electronic address: clark.kebodeaux@uky.edu. 3. University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, 69 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3092, Storrs, CT 06269-3092, United States. Electronic address: jill.fitzgerald@uconn.edu. 4. University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, 69 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3092, Storrs, CT 06269-3092, United States. Electronic address: lisa.holle@uconn.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: A key element for pharmacy practice defined by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) is medication use systems management. A web-based community pharmacy simulation originally created for Australian pharmacy students was adapted for pharmacy students in the United States (US). The objective of this study was to collaboratively adapt an existing international simulation program for utility in the US and measure student perceptions of a web-based community pharmacy simulation program in three US schools of pharmacy. METHODS: An Australian development team in collaboration with US pharmacy school faculty modified the existing MyDispense software to create a virtual environment that accurately represented US community pharmacy practice. Students at three US schools of pharmacy used the newly adapted version of MyDispense and were surveyed on their prior experience in community pharmacy and their perceptions of MyDispense as a learning tool. RESULTS: Overall 241 (44%) students completed the satisfaction survey. Approximately 40% of these students worked in a community pharmacy before starting pharmacy school. Most students agreed or strongly agreed that MyDispense was straightforward to learn (76%), was more realistic than addressing similar paper cases (73%), and offered a learning opportunity to safely make errors (84%). Qualitative thematic analysis revealed that MyDispense allowed students to practice how to gather patient information and ask appropriate questions, counsel patients, and practice the dispensing process. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Response to the US version of My Dispense is positive and proves to be a viable option for introducing and reinforcing community pharmacy practice skills to students during in their pharmacy education.
INTRODUCTION: A key element for pharmacy practice defined by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) is medication use systems management. A web-based community pharmacy simulation originally created for Australian pharmacy students was adapted for pharmacy students in the United States (US). The objective of this study was to collaboratively adapt an existing international simulation program for utility in the US and measure student perceptions of a web-based community pharmacy simulation program in three US schools of pharmacy. METHODS: An Australian development team in collaboration with US pharmacy school faculty modified the existing MyDispense software to create a virtual environment that accurately represented US community pharmacy practice. Students at three US schools of pharmacy used the newly adapted version of MyDispense and were surveyed on their prior experience in community pharmacy and their perceptions of MyDispense as a learning tool. RESULTS: Overall 241 (44%) students completed the satisfaction survey. Approximately 40% of these students worked in a community pharmacy before starting pharmacy school. Most students agreed or strongly agreed that MyDispense was straightforward to learn (76%), was more realistic than addressing similar paper cases (73%), and offered a learning opportunity to safely make errors (84%). Qualitative thematic analysis revealed that MyDispense allowed students to practice how to gather patient information and ask appropriate questions, counsel patients, and practice the dispensing process. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Response to the US version of My Dispense is positive and proves to be a viable option for introducing and reinforcing community pharmacy practice skills to students during in their pharmacy education.
Authors: Leanne Coyne; Thayer A Merritt; Brittany L Parmentier; Rachel A Sharpton; Jody K Takemoto Journal: Am J Pharm Educ Date: 2019-04 Impact factor: 2.047