| Literature DB >> 36136836 |
S Lena Kang-Birken1, Elaine J Law1, Yong S K Moon1, Audrey J Lee1, Andrew L Haydon1, Allen Shek1.
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic created a major shift in learning modalities in the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience program. This descriptive study aimed to evaluate preceptor and student perceptions of remote learning experiences and student practice readiness upon completion of remote rotations. Preceptors and students who participated in partial to full remote experiential rotations between 17 August 2020 and 26 March 2021 were invited to complete an on-line survey. A cross-sectional survey consisted of closed-ended questions using a 5-point Likert scale assessing perception on adaptability, effectiveness of remote learning in advancing practice knowledge and skills, and confidence in students' practice readiness. A total of 29 preceptors and 43 students completed the survey (response rates of 67% and 57%, respectively). Approximately 70% of the remote rotations were practice-based, with ambulatory care representing the most frequently reported rotation by preceptors (38%) and students (28%). A high level of confidence in preceptor perception of their ability to adapt and provide effective remote experiences (average 4.28) matched with the students' high level of confidence with their preceptors' abilities (86% agree or strongly agree). Upon the completion of remote rotations, both preceptors and students felt confident in student practice readiness based on student ability to design and initiate individualized patient care plans or complete projects using evidence-based resources (79% and 86%, respectively). Most preceptors (69%) reported that students achieved the rotation objectives at the same level as students engaged in-person experiences. The limitations of remote learning included the absence of direct interactions. Overall, both preceptors and students reported achieving practice readiness with remote experiential learning experiences and felt the remote activities should be continued post-pandemic.Entities:
Keywords: COVID-19; pharmacy experiential learning; preceptor perception; remote learning
Year: 2022 PMID: 36136836 PMCID: PMC9498841 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy10050103
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Pharmacy (Basel) ISSN: 2226-4787
APPE Student and Preceptor Surveys: Preceptor demographics and rotation characteristics.
| APPE Student Survey (n= 43) (%) | APPE Preceptor Survey (n = 29) (%) | |
|---|---|---|
|
| ||
| 1–5 years | NA | 7 (24.1%) |
| 6–10 years | NA | 9 (31.0%) |
| 11–15 years | NA | 4 (13.8%) |
| Greater than 15 years | NA | 9 (31.0%) |
|
| ||
| 81–100% (between 24 and 30 days) | 33 (76.7%) | NA |
| 61–80% (between 18 and 24 days) | 2 (4.7%) | NA |
| 41–60% (between 12 and 18 days) | 5 (11.6 %) | NA |
| 21–40% (between 6 and 12 days) | 2 (4.7 %) | NA |
| Less or equal to 20% (6 days or less) | 1 (2.2 %) | NA |
|
| ||
|
| 20/43 (46.2%) | 16/29 (55.2%) |
| Ambulatory care | 12 (27.9%) | 11 (37.9%) |
| Hospital practice | 6 (13.6%) | 2 (6.9%) |
| Internal medicine | 2 (4.7%) | 2 (6.9%) |
| Community practice | NA | 1 (3.5%) |
|
| 23/43 (53.5 %) | 13/29 (45.0%) |
|
| 12/43 (27.9%) | 8/29 (28%) |
| Managed care | 8 (18.6%) | 2 (6.9%) |
| Pharmaceutical industry | 1 (2.3%) | 3(10.3%) |
| Other a,b | 3 (7.0%) a | 3 (10.3%) b |
|
| 11/43 (25.6%) | 5/29 (17.2%) |
| Geriatrics (Long-term care) | 3 (6.9%) | 1 (3.4%) |
| Critical care | 2 (4.7%) | 1 (3.4%) |
| Others c,d | 6 (14.0%) c | 3 (10.3%) d |
|
| 133 | 102 |
| Patient case presentations | 27 (20.3%) | 20 (19.6%) |
| Topic discussions | 26 (19.5%) | 24 (23.5%) |
| Formal presentations | 23 (17.3%) | 18 (17.6%) |
| Journal club | 18 (13.5%) | 15 (14.7%) |
| Telehealth visits | 14 (10.5%) | 8 (7.8%) |
| Multi-Disciplinary team rounds | 8 (6.0%) | 6 (5.9%) |
| ASHP competency modules | 6 (4.5%) | 3 (2.9%) |
| Virtual clean room | 2 (1.5%) | NA |
| Other e,f | 9 (6.8%) e | 8 (7.8%) f |
NA = Not Applicable; ASHP = American Society of Health System Pharmacists; IT = Information Technology; a Other project-based electives from student survey: Drug information 1 (2.3%), Medication safety 1 (2.3%), and Pharmacy and Therapeutics 1 (2.3%); b Other project-based elective from preceptor survey: Academia 1 (3.4%), Administration 1 (3.4%), and Medication safety 1 (3.4%); c Other practice-based electives from student survey: Infectious Disease 1 (2.3%), Advanced Ambulatory Care 1 (2.3%), Diabetes Management 1 (2.3%), Oncology 1 (2.3%), Psychiatry 1 (2.3%), and Specialized Pharmacy 1 (2.3%); d Other Practice-Based Electives from Preceptor Survey: Infectious Diseases 1 (3.4%), Oncology 1 (3.4%), and Specialized Pharmacy 1 (3.4%); e From Student Survey: Attending meetings, attending lectures, developing policy and procedures, filming education videos on use of a glucometer, insulin, and drug pen, completing a research project and presentation, answering pharmacist drug-information queries, completing a drug monograph, updating protocols or completing other projects assigned by preceptor; f From Preceptor Survey: Attending meetings, preparing, and presenting drug Information and monograph presentations, performing medication safety utilization review audits, completing adverse event and medication error reports, performing project-based research activities, completing clinical trial management projects, participating in e-learnings, acquiring hands-on IT experience in a “sandbox environment”, creating digital materials, conducting patient interviews, and engaging in SOAP presentations and discussions.
Student survey results (N = 43).
| Questions | Weighted Average (out of 5) | % Agree or Strongly Agree |
|---|---|---|
| My remote activities were effective and advanced my practice knowledge and skills | 4.16 | 83.7% |
| I feel confident that I can design and initiate individualized patient care plans or projects using evidence-based resources | 4.12 | 86% |
| I feel confident that I can communicate effective care plans, presentations, or projects (verbal or written) | 4.30 | 93% |
| My preceptor provided an effective remote learning experience for me | 4.42 | 90.7% |
| Overall, I was satisfied with the remote activities that this APPE rotation offered | 4.21 | 86% |
| I would recommend this remote experience in the future | 3.93 | 69.8% |
Preceptor survey results (N = 29).
| Questions | Weighted Average (out of 5) | % Agree or Strongly Agree |
|---|---|---|
| Students were able to adapt readily to the remote APPE learning environment | 4.38 | 89.7% |
| Students achieved the rotation objectives at the same level as in-person | 3.76 | 68.9% |
| I felt confident in my ability to deliver an effective remote APPE rotation | 4.28 | 86.2% |
| I feel confident that students in a remote APPE can design and initiate individualized patient care plans or projects using evidence-based resources | 4.10 | 79.3% |
| I received support from School(s) of Pharmacy to help manage my remote APPE rotation(s) | 3.86 | 68.9% |
| I had access to the necessary technology platforms and reliable internet to deliver an effective remote APPE rotation | 4.28 | 86.2% |
| I felt comfortable with the technology available to deliver an effective remote APPE rotation | 4.28 | 86.2% |
| I plan to continue utilizing some remote teaching innovations in the future post COVID-19 | 4.14 | 86.2% |
APPE: Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience; COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019.
Preceptor and student free-response questions.
| Preceptor: Additional comments not addressed in the survey |
|---|
| “Remote interactions for case and topic presentations were conducted with interns at other sites” |
| “I appreciate all the resources and help from the Regional Coordinator to try and make the rotations work well and have proper content.” |
| “I just feel like the in-person connection was lost during those times but learning and work continued.” |
| “Remote rotations are extremely difficult for students in the critical care/internal medicine rotations especially if they have no hospital experience.” |
| “I run to codes and traumas, and they are not able to experience what they would be able to experience if they were on campus. I strongly do not recommend this rotation remotely.” |
| “While it served the purpose during quarantine, having the right student is key to virtual learning.” |
| “Public speaking skills cannot fully be practiced remotely. Body language, preparation, and overcoming nervousness is not the same level when one can read off a document at home vs speaking in front of a large live audience.” |
| “Some of the research for med system issues is best done in person. It was fine to work around this for COVID, but ideally the learning experience is best at least partially or fully on-site.” |
| “This elective industry rotation was completely project-based. I am now fully remote and plan to continue my APPE rotations as fully/partially remote moving forward. |
|
|
| “Interdisciplinary care, direct patient care” |
| “It is difficult to build connections with preceptors in a virtual setting and can be difficult to keep the audience’s attention during presentation” |
| “Missing out on some of the inpatient experiences in the main pharmacy to see how it operated. Another would be missing rounds due to being remote” |
| “Unable to conduct comprehensive care and to do hands on activities that in-clinic appointments provided” |
| “The dynamic was very different. It (critical care rotation) started online, then became onsite. There were more opportunities to learn on site when things came up. I was able to observe a code blue.” |
| “Access to the EHR, ability to make in-person connection” |
| “It would have been nice to see my preceptors in person, but this rotation was a good rotation to do virtually” |
| “Much rather do remote even on other rotations. It would make me feel a lot safer, and that would make me learn better as well. Honestly there’s not much difference on site vs virtual” |
| “The biggest gap comes with not having remote access and also keeping up with the work and deadlines simply because it’s so comfortable at home” |