Exploring a collaborative approach to the involvement of patients, carers and the public in the initial education and training of healthcare professionals: A qualitative study of patient experiences.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore patients' experiences of their involvement in the design and delivery of interprofessional education interventions focussing on mental ill-health for students studying in undergraduate healthcare and healthcare-related programmes. DESIGN: A qualitative methodology using a Grounded Theory approach was used to undertake an iterative series of focus groups with members of a university's Patient, Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) Group who have a history of mental ill-health and were involved in the development and delivery of educational interventions for students on undergraduate healthcare and healthcare-related programmes. Their experiences of being involved in teaching and learning activities, collaboration with academic staff and integration into the academic faculty were explored. Constant comparative analysis facilitated the identification and prioritisation of salient themes. RESULTS: Five salient inter-related themes emerged from the data: (1) reduced stigma and normalisation of experience of illness; (2) enhanced self-worth; (3) improved well-being; (4) community and connection; and (5) enduring benefits. CONCLUSIONS: A supportive university community and a designated academic PCPI co-ordinator facilitate a supportive environment for patients and carers to develop as educators, contribute to the training of future healthcare professionals and improve their own personal well-being. Appropriately resourced and well-supported initiatives to integrate patients, carers and the public into the functions of an academic faculty can result in tangible benefits to individuals and facilitate meaningful and enduring connections between the university and the wider community within which it is situated. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: Patients have been involved in the design of the teaching and learning initiatives that this study was primarily focused on. Patients were given autonomy in determining how their experiences should be incorporated into teaching and learning experiences.

Designing and evaluating an interprofessional education conference approach to antimicrobial education.

BACKGROUND: Arguably, Medical School curricula are deficient in learning opportunities related to the safe and effective use of medicines, in particular antimicrobials. Infection management is complex and multidisciplinary, and learning opportunities should reflect these principles. Aligned to the complexity of the subject matter, simulation and interprofessional based teaching are methods that can foster the collaborative skills required of future healthcare professionals. There have been calls to develop these methods in the teaching of safe prescribing and the management of infections; however, reports of such studies are limited. METHODS: We developed an interprofessional education (IPE) conference for second year undergraduate medical and pharmacy students based in the North East of England. We considered contact theory in the design of three small group interprofessional workshops, on the broad themes of antimicrobial stewardship, infection management and patient safety. A mixed methods approach assessed students' attitudes towards IPE, barriers and facilitators of learning, and perceived learning gains. Qualitative data from workshop evaluation forms were analysed thematically, while quantitative data were analysed descriptively and differences between medical and pharmacy cohorts analysed using unpaired two-tailed t-tests. RESULTS: 226/352 students returned the workshop evaluation forms (66% of pharmacy students, 62% of medical students). 281/352 students responded to a series of Likert scale questions on the value of interprofessional education (88% of pharmacy students, 70% of medical students). Students reported acquisition of knowledge and skills, including concepts and procedures related to infection management and antimicrobial prescribing, and the development of problem-solving and critical evaluation skills. Students reflected on their attitude towards interprofessional collaboration. They reported a greater understanding of the roles of other healthcare professionals, reflected on the importance of effective communication in ensuring patient safety, and were more confident to work in interprofessional teams after the conference. CONCLUSIONS: A robust IPE event, theoretically underpinned by contact theory and developed collaboratively, achieved interprofessional learning at scale and helped develop healthcare professionals willing to collaborate across disciplines. The resources, and evaluation insights based on the 3P (presage, process, and product) model of learning and teaching, will be of value to other educators who seek to develop theoretically-sound IPE interventions.

Introducing pharmacy students to the structure and function of general practice through undergraduate placements.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to design and evaluate the introduction of a sustainable and feasible structure of placements in general practice for third-year pharmacy students at the University of Sunderland. The national agenda in the United Kingdom (UK) calls for an increased presence of pharmacists within general practice; therefore, development of placements in this is setting is aligned to the development of these new roles. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: The placements were located in general practice surgeries in the North East of England in the UK. Students engaged in activities which introduced them to the structure and function of general practice and familiarise them with the role of pharmacists and other practice staff. Two cohorts undertook the education activity during the development process. The first cohort was comprised of 213 students, with 193 students the following year. FINDINGS: An action research approach was taken to evaluate and revise the design of the placement. The final design and delivery have been shown to have a positive impact on student learning experience, be feasible and sustainable. The placement was also successful at introducing students to potential future roles in general practice for pharmacists. SUMMARY: This model of general practice placement provision was found to be a feasible and sustainable delivery model, which was well received by undergraduate students.

Community pharmacy as an effective teaching and learning environment: Student perspectives from a UK MPharm programme.

INTRODUCTION: In order to increase new pharmacists' preparedness for clinical practice, pharmacy education in the United Kingdom (UK) is moving towards a five-year integrated degree incorporating the pre-registration year into the undergraduate programme. The purpose of this research is to explore masters of pharmacy (MPharm) student attitudes towards experiential learning and assess community pharmacy as a teaching and learning environment. METHODS: MPharm students (n = 857) at one UK pharmacy school were invited to complete an online questionnaire. Responses were statistically analysed while open comments were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Students were positive about placement organisation, with over 80% agreeing the pharmacist and support staff were enthusiastic and well-prepared. However, 62% of respondents felt they were unable to interact with patients on placements and instead spent time completing pre-determined learning tasks. Seventy-seven percent felt these tasks limited real "hands-on" experiences. Although 78% of respondents believed placements provided a valuable learning experience, only 18% thought placements prepared them for post-graduate employment. CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacy environments are often busy and unpredictable, and experiential learning should be designed to allow better exposure to clinical practice with less pre-defined learning. Placements should allow for more collaborative working between universities and employers and incorporate the use of learning standards. This would represent a move towards a five-year integrated degree and a better understanding of the associated challenges involved.

Exploring the utility of the Prescribing Safety Assessment in pharmacy education in England: experiences of pre-registration trainees and undergraduate (MPharm) pharmacy students.

OBJECTIVES: (i) To provide a preliminary indication of the performance of pharmacy undergraduate students and pre-registration pharmacy trainees in the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA). (ii) To determine the feasibility of administering and delivering the PSA in schools of pharmacy. (iii) To examine the potential relevance of the PSA and associated training materials to pharmacy education. (iv) To assess the attitudes of the cohort towards the PSA and their readiness to prescribe. METHODS: Four schools of pharmacy in England recruited final year undergraduate pharmacy students and pre-registration pharmacy trainees undertaking training with both hospital and community pharmacy employers in their locality to undertake the PSA. Performance data and feedback from candidates were obtained. KEY FINDINGS: Pre-registration pharmacy trainees in community (n = 27) and hospital (n = 209) settings mean average scores were 86.3% and 85.3%, respectively. There was a significant performance differential between undergraduate pharmacy students (n = 397) and those in pre-registration training, with the mean average score for undergraduate students being 73.0% (t test P < 0.05). Candidates felt their current course did prepare them for the PSA, some highlighted that additional curriculum content would be needed should this become a compulsory high-stakes assessment for pharmacy trainees. The majority of candidates felt that this assessment was useful and applicable to their training. CONCLUSIONS: The PSA process and associated learning tools could be introduced to pre-registration pharmacy education to support trainees in their development towards future prescribing roles.

Making it work: the feasibility and logistics of delivering large-scale interprofessional education to undergraduate healthcare students in a conference format.

An interprofessional education conference was developed and delivered to undergraduate medical and pharmacy students to address training needs around appropriate antimicrobial prescribing, identification and management of sepsis, patient safety and interprofessional working. The day consisted of keynote lectures delivered by specialist speakers and three small group interprofessional teaching sessions exploring (1) the choice and prescribing of antimicrobials for a range of infections, (2) the diagnosis and management of sepsis utilising simulation methodology and (3) the discussion of a clinical error using significant event analysis. Students' attitudes and acceptance towards this educational intervention were assessed using a mixed methods evaluation. The delivery of an effective learning and teaching intervention in a conference format to a large cohort of pharmacy and medical students (n = 352) was found to be feasible. The logistics of organising an IPE conference of this scale were challenging but not insurmountable if sufficient staff and financial resources can be secured. Scheduling access to adequate teaching rooms and student timetabling were amongst the other important aspects affecting the success of such an event.

Interprofessional learning for medication safety.

BACKGROUND: Patient safety is a worldwide priority. Recommendations have been made that doctors, nurses and pharmacists could interact more effectively to improve patient outcomes, and that interprofessional education should be encouraged. In 2009, the North East Strategic Health Authority awarded Workforce Development Initiative funding to Northumbria Healthcare National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust to develop an undergraduate interprofessional training activity in medication safety for medicine, pharmacy and nursing students. CONTEXT: Interprofessional seminars for medication safety and therapeutics were developed that were delivered across the North East of England. The initial seminars took place between January and April 2011 at 10 teaching hospitals, and were attended by over 400 students (from medicine, pharmacy and nursing). INNOVATION: The majority of the workshops were facilitated by an interprofessional team comprised of pharmacists, doctors and nurses, with all students working in small groups with participants from each of the professional groups, where possible. All seminars had standardised materials, but it was up to individual facilitators to choose which of the five case studies were used within the seminar. The seminars lasted between 2 and 3 hours, and depending on which case studies were used, two or three cases could be discussed. Student feedback showed that the seminar was particularly successful in highlighting and improving the students' understanding of each other's roles and responsibilities in relation to medication safety. There are considerable organisational challenges in arranging interprofessional groups. Scenarios need to provide tasks that engage and challenge all of the professions involved. Facilitation is an important element. Interprofessional education should be encouraged.