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Pharma Industry

First-Year Residency Candidates' Experience in Various Areas of Pharmacy Practice

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 2008 by Garris, Kristen, Wellein, Marlea G, Wessell, Andrea, Ragucci, Dominic, Blair, Melissa M

Objective. To determine the extent of experience or exposure pharmacy residency candidates had in various areas of hospital pharmacy practice and to identify any candidate-specific variables that correlated with a larger extent of experience.

Methods. Over a 3-year period, a self-assessment survey instrument was administered to 116 postgraduate first-year (PGY1) pharmacy practice residency candidates to evaluate their extent of experience within various areas of hospital pharmacy practice such as patient care activities, drug information, and drug distribution/control.

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Results. The residency candidates reported the greatest amount of experience in patient counseling, working with pharmacy databases, taking medication histories, pharmacokinetics, and outpatient dispensing procedures. They had less experience with medical emergencies, parenteral nutrition, and intravenous admixture techniques. Overall, there was no correlation between class rank, advanced pharmacy practice experiences, geographic region, or year of interview and the extent of candidates' experience in any specific area of pharmacy.

Conclusion. PGY1 residency candidates in this sample reported minimal experience in areas necessary for hospital pharmacy practice and this suggests possible deficiencies in the PharmD curriculum. PGY1 residency programs in acute care settings should recognize these educational deficits and assure that residents have exposure to and develop proficiency in critical areas such as medical emergencies, parenteral nutrition, and intravenous admixture techniques.

Keywords: pharmacy practice, residency, assessment, survey

INTRODUCTION

The role of the pharmacist is evolving to include more participation in and responsibilities for patient care-related activities. A recent publication of the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners (JCPP) proposed a vision of the profession such that "pharmacists will have the authority and autonomy to manage medication therapy and will be accountable for patients' therapeutic outcomes."1,2 In anticipation of these proposed changes, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) modified accreditation standards to reflect that the sole professional degree to be issued after 2005 would be the doctorate of pharmacy (PharmD). With the introduction of the first professional PharmD degree, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) revised the Center for the Advancement of Pharmaceutical Education (CAPE) Educational Outcomes to assure that colleges of pharmacy maintain educational content consistent with pharmacists' evolving roles.3 The updated CAPE Educational Outcomes outline a vision of pharmacy curriculum to produce graduates who are able to "provide pharmaceutical care in cooperation with patients, prescribers, and other members of an interpro-fessional health care team based upon sound therapeutic principles and evidence-based data."3 Despite these changes to curricula, the higher clinical demands placed upon pharmacists may exceed the education provided by colleges of pharmacy. Therefore, postgraduate residency training will likely play a larger role in pharmacy education as the responsibilities of pharmacists continue to evolve. Residencies can provide more extensive training in one particular area of pharmacy (eg, community or institutional setting) and prepare graduates for additional clinical responsibilities.4 This approach is supported by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), which maintains the vision that the completion of an accredited residency program will become a prerequisite for all pharmacists who provide direct patient care by the year 2020.5

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Medical Center and South Carolina College of Pharmacy's PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency program consists of 6 to 8 resident positions annually. Approximately 40 candidates from around the country interview for a residency position each year. During the interview, candidates are asked to complete a self-assessment survey instrument to determine the potential needs of the incoming residency class and identify areas to improve residency education opportunities. Because of the exposure to a large group of students from around the nation, self-assessment survey data were reviewed to determine the average amount of experience candidates reported within various areas of pharmacy practice. In addition, certain variables, such as class rank, clinical rotation experience, year of interview, and geographical region, were evaluated to determine whether significant differences existed between these variables and the extent of experience reported by the candidates.

METHODS

A12-question self-assessment survey instrument was administered to PGY1 pharmacy practice residency candidates during onsite interviews from 2003 to 2005. Based on a 5-point Likert scale, the survey instrument assessed the extent of experience reported by the applicants within certain areas of general hospital practice, including patient care activities, drug information, and drug distribution/control (Figure 1). Candidates were informed that the survey results would not be reviewed prior to the residency match and would therefore have no impact on their ranking. Study design was reviewed and Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. The median score was evaluated for each of the activities included on the survey instrument. In addition, correlation statistics were performed with the candidates' self-reported level of experience and class rank, clinical rotation experience, year of interview, and geographical region. A series of ANOVA analyses were conducted between the variables. All statistical analyses were performed using StataTM statistical software (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX).

Pharma Industry

First-Year Residency Candidates' Experience in Various Areas of Pharmacy Practice

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 2008 by Garris, Kristen, Wellein, Marlea G, Wessell, Andrea, Ragucci, Dominic, Blair, Melissa M

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