Correlating Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Exam Scores and Pharmacist Licensure Status in a Single Program.

OBJECTIVE: Pharmacist licensure exam first-time pass rates have declined for several years. Predictors of licensure exam performance, including the Pharmacy College Admission Test, are no longer required, necessitating alternative strategies. Our aim is to assess the relationship between numerical scores on advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) exams and pharmacist licensure exams first-time pass rates. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational analysis. APPE examination results between May 2020 and November 2023 were analyzed for association with licensure information from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. Exam scores were collected for student cohorts graduating from 2021 to 2022 as study cohort data. Correlation between exam scores and probability of successful licensure was assessed using logistic regression. A classification and regression tree analysis identified the most significant threshold. Predictive ability of the best-fit model was prospectively validated using the 2023 graduate cohort. RESULTS: The overall licensure success rate was 80.6% for the study cohort (2021-2022, n = 206). Exam scores were well correlated to the likelihood of licensing success. The most significant threshold was 77.8%. The success rate was 82.5% vs 16.7% for those scoring above and below the threshold, respectively. The observed and predicted licensure success rates were 91.0% and 88.8%, respectively, in the validation cohort (2023, n = 89). The positive and negative prediction values were 94.9% and 40.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The performances on APPE exams were reasonable in predicting the first-time licensure success rate for a graduating class. Our assessment appears promising as a risk-stratification tool for students in gaining successful pharmacist licensure.

Predicting pharmacy students' intention to apply for a residency: A systematic theory of planned behavior approach.

OBJECTIVE: The current literature has identified many motivating factors and barriers influencing pharmacy students' decision to apply for residency training. Despite a growing need for residency trained pharmacists to advance the profession, it is not clear why only about one in four pharmacy students decide to pursue a residency, and which of these factors have the most influence on student decision-making. The study examines the factors associated with pharmacy students' intention to apply for a postgraduate residency using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) framework. METHODS: Second and third-year students from four Texas pharmacy schools were surveyed using an online questionnaire based on the TPB. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were utilized to assess the study objectives. RESULTS: A total of 251 completed responses were received. Attitude, subjective norms (SN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC) were significant predictors of intention to apply for a pharmacy residency (ß = 0.32, 0.58, and 0.36, respectively, p < 0.001). Attending ASHP's midyear meeting or other residency showcase was a significant predictor of intention (ß = 0.71, p = 0.006). Additional significant predictors of intention include believing a residency would increase confidence in practicing pharmacy (ß = 0.36, p < 0.001) and help achieve career goals (ß = 0.16, p < 0.02); the social influence of faculty members (ß = 0.10, p = 0.003) and family (ß = 0.08, p = 0.02); believing financial obligations (ß = 0.20, p = 0.006), feeling afraid of the competition and/or not matching (ß = 0.24, p < 0.001), needing to relocate (ß = 0.09, p = 0.04), and the lengthy application and/or interview process (ß = 0.12, p = 0.04) would make it more difficult to apply for a residency. CONCLUSIONS: The TPB model was useful in predicting pharmacy students' intention to apply for a residency, and all TPB constructs were significant predictors. Therefore, interventions that target students' attitude, SN, and PBC may be valuable to increase their intention, especially the specific beliefs identified to significantly predict intention. Future research into methods in which these motivating factors can be encouraged and perceived barriers can be addressed by pharmacy stakeholders will increase interest and participation in residency training.