Assessing Confidence and Competence of Student Pharmacists in a Virtual Medication Adherence Training Program.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a virtual medication adherence training (VMAT) program on students' perceived confidence and perceived competency in delivering medication adherence services via telehealth. METHODS: This pilot pre-/post-observational study consisted of 2 subsequent sections: (1) 4 asynchronous self-study modules via Canvas (Instructure, Inc.) learning management system, and (2) 2 live application-based sessions involving virtual and telephonic standardized patients. A pre-/post-survey was given to first-, second-, and third-year Doctor of Pharmacy students to assess perceived confidence and perceived competence. Participants completed a 5-question multiple-choice quiz before and after each module to assess knowledge. RESULTS: Students' overall perceived confidence and perceived competency significantly increased upon completing VMAT. Knowledge in each module assessment also significantly improved. During the assessment of performance throughout the live sessions, most participants lost points when resolving issues within the interaction, addressing the need for patient follow-up, and assessing patient knowledge of medication adherence. CONCLUSION: This novel VMAT suggests that this or similar programs would be beneficial to improve pharmacy students' perceived confidence, perceived competence, and knowledge in delivering virtual medication adherence services in the telehealth setting. The incorporation of such training within the didactic curriculum of doctoral pharmacy programs should be considered to improve patient care skills for future medication experts.

Students' Perceptions and Lessons Learned From Virtual APPE Rotations: A Multi-Institutional Perspective.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption in pharmacy experiential learning as clinical practice sites restricted student access to onsite rotations. Therefore, colleges of pharmacy across the country likely included virtual advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) to fulfill experiential education requirements. The objective of this paper is to evaluate students' perceptions of virtual APPEs during the 2020-2021 academic year. Methods: Experiential directors and faculty at 3 colleges of pharmacy in the south Florida region developed a survey to assess students' perceptions of their virtual APPE rotations during the 2020-2021 academic year. Students who took at least one fully virtual APPE rotation were asked about their perceptions of these rotations. Results: A total of 349 students were invited to take the survey and 92 (26.3%) completed the survey. Of these, 77 students (83.7%) completed at least one virtual rotation. These students completed a total of 152 virtual rotations, with elective and ambulatory care rotations being the most frequent. Most students agreed that rotation objectives were clear, and preceptors offered resources needed to be successful during the rotation. Responses regarding engagement during virtual rotations, rotation expectations being met, and rotations expanding students' knowledge were mixed. Conclusions: Virtual rotations may present unique experiential opportunities for students. Colleges of pharmacy and preceptors can benefit from additional guidance regarding how to incorporate virtual rotations into the experiential curriculum. Best practices for virtual rotations include high frequency of interactions with preceptors, clear objectives and responsibilities, and the use of a rotation calendar.

Strategies for Managing Pharmacy Experiential Education During COVID-19.

In recent months, the coronavirus pandemic has significantly affected almost every industry in the United States, including health care and higher education. Faculty and students at colleges and schools of pharmacy nationwide have needed to quickly adapt as the delivery of curricula has shifted to primarily online format. Additionally, experiential rotations have been significantly affected as practice settings such as hospitals and outpatient clinics have limited students' interactions with patients or stopped allowing students on-site altogether. Our commentary will explore strategies that have been employed by experiential education coordinators and pharmacy preceptors from various settings to navigate experiential education during these difficult times while ensuring students successfully meet requirements for graduation. These will include descriptions of transitioning advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) to virtual format, how to safely involve students in the care of COVID-19 patients, and managing scheduling issues.

Development and evaluation of physician-precepted advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) within an accountable care organization (ACO).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) standards emphasize that pharmacy graduates should be "practice- and team-ready," and the American Society for Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Task Force on accountable care organizations (ACOs) states that curricula at pharmacy schools should be evaluated and reworked to prepare students to practice effectively as members of the health care team within ACOs. The objective of this study was to describe the development of an ACO-based advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) rotation block, clinical activities and interventions completed by students during the experience, and perceptions of students, patients, and physician preceptors regarding the experience. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: The rotation block was within outpatient ACO offices and consisted of a four-week rotation with one pharmacy faculty, immediately followed by a four-week elective experience in a different office with a physician serving as primary preceptor. FINDINGS: Eight students completed the rotation block between August 2017 and April 2018. Students documented a total of 1299 clinical activities and 65 interventions. Medication reconciliation and recommendations to initiate a medication were the most commonly completed activities and interventions documented. The experience was positively perceived among surveyed students, patients, and physician preceptors. SUMMARY: The rotation block was successfully implemented with a positive response from students, patients, and physician preceptors. As a result, the program has expanded in accordance with ACPE Standards to create "practice- and team-readiness" among graduates and expose students to interdisciplinary care within ACOs and other settings.

A review of 2014 cancer drug approvals, with a look at 2015 and beyond.

The number of cancer medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration has risen steadily in recent years. This article provides a concise overview of drugs and indications added to the cancer armamentarium in 2014 and to date in 2015.