Training experiences of current and former community pharmacy residents, 1986-2000.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To identify why current and former community pharmacy residents chose a community pharmacy residency program (CPRP), what factors in the program were emphasized and not emphasized, what opportunities were available to them postresidency, and, for former residents, what skills learned during their residency have been most useful in their careers to date. DESIGN: Mail survey. PARTICIPANTS: 1999-2000 residents and former residents dating back to 1986. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reasons residents chose a CPRP over other residency or employment opportunities and respondents' ratings of the emphasis placed on a variety of skills and activities in their training programs. RESULTS: A total of 44 surveys were included in the final analysis, 18 (41%) of which were completed by 1999-2000 CPRP residents performing their residency at the time of the survey. The most common reasons for choosing a CPRP over other types of programs were opportunities for developing innovative services and direct patient interaction. Communication skills, clinical skills, and level of patient interaction were reported as being most highly emphasized. Management of the distribution system was most frequently cited as having "low" or "no" emphasis in their residency. Respondents listed marketing skills as the most common area requiring improvement or additional focus in their residency. Former residents cited leadership skills and the development of patient care services as the factors in their residency having the greatest impact on their careers to date. Postresidency opportunities most frequently sought included faculty, staff pharmacist, and clinical pharmacist positions. CONCLUSION: Candidates are drawn to CPRPs because of the opportunities such residencies offer to develop innovative services and provide direct patient care. Residents feel that many programs fail to provide adequate training in the areas of marketing services and obtaining reimbursement. Residency program directors should consider these findings when evaluating and marketing their programs.