RESEARCH ARTICLE: Evaluation of pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions of transitions of care services
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.1015Keywords:
Pharmacy curriculum, Pharmacy education, Pharmacist-led service, Transition of careAbstract
Introduction: Studies support incorporation of pharmacists and pharmacy students to improve health and financial outcomes during transition of care (TOC). Standardisation of TOC educational training is currently lacking in pharmacy curricula.
Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a convenience sample at one college of pharmacy. Students participated in an anonymous Qualtrics survey including items on TOC service understanding and educational training. Results are reported as means and standard deviation for continuous data; frequencies and percentages for categorical data.
Results: Of 116 survey responses, 112 provided informed consent. Seventy-eight percent of respondents stated they have learned about TOC and 66% felt they understood what TOC entails. When asked to identify disease states commonly targeted for TOC, 77% responded incorrectly to this item. When asked to select TOC clinical activities, 66% incorrectly selected medication dispensing. Ninety-six percent of respondents replied that additional educational training on TOC would be beneficial.
Conclusion: There is a discrepancy in students’ perception of TOC services with their actual knowledge of TOC services based on survey responses.
References
Abrashkin, K.A., Cho, H.J., Torgalkar, S., & Markoff, B. (2012). Improving transitions of care from hospital to home: what works? The Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, New York, 79(5), 535–544. https://doi.org/10.1002/msj.21332
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. (2016). Accreditation Standards and Key Elements for the Professional Program in Pharmacy Leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree. Available at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/pdf/Standards2016FINAL.pdf
American College of Clinical Pharmacy, Hume, A.L., Kirwin, J., Bieber, H.L., Couchenour, R.L., Hall, D.L., Kennedy, A.K., LaPointe, N. M., Burkhardt, C. D., Schilli, K., Seaton, T., Trujillo, J., & Wiggins, B. (2012). Improving care transitions: current practice and future opportunities for pharmacists. Pharmacotherapy, 32(11), e326-37. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.1215
Brantley, A.F., Rossi, D.M., Barnes-Warren, S., Francisco, J.C., Schatten, I., & Dave, V. (2018). Bridging gaps in care: Implementation of a pharmacist-led transitions-of-care program. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 75(5 Suppleundefined1), S1–S5. https://doi.org/10.2146/ajhp160652
Conliffe, B., VanOpdorp, J., Weant, K., VanArsdale, V., Wiedmar, J., & Morgan, J. (2019). Impact of an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Student-Run “Meds 2 Beds” and Discharge Counseling Program on Quality of Care. Hospital pharmacy, 54(5), 314–322. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018578718791519
Cooper, J.B., & Bradley, C.L. (2019). Design of hospital errors and omissions activities that include patient-specific medication related problems. Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning, 11(1), 66–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2018.09.018
Eltaki, S.M., Singh-Franco, D., Leon, D.J., Nguyen, M.-O., & Wolowich, W.R. (2018). Allocation of faculty and curricular time to the teaching of transitions of care concepts by colleges of pharmacy. Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning, 10(6), 701–711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2018.03.014
Gilmore, V., Efird, L., Fu, D., LeBlanc, Y., Nesbit, T., & Swarthout, M. (2015). Implementation of transitions-of-care services through acute care and outpatient pharmacy collaboration. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 72(9), 737–744. https://doi.org/10.2146/ajhp140504
Hagemeier, N.E., Hess, R., Hagen, K.S., & Sorah, E.L. (2014). Impact of an interprofessional communication course on nursing, medical, and pharmacy students’ communication skill self-efficacy beliefs. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 78(10), 186. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7810186
Hertig, R., Ackerman, R., Zagar, B., & Tart, S. (2017). Pharmacy student involvement in a transition of care program. Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning, 9(5), 841–847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2017.06.004
Center for Patient Safety. (2021). Hot Topics in Healthcare: Transitions of Care: The need for a more effective approach to continuing patient care. Available at: https://www.centerforpatientsafety.org/resource/hot-topics-in-healthcare-transitions-of-care-the-need-for-a-more-effective-approach-to-continuing-patient-care/
Kiersma, M.E., Darbishire, P.L., Plake, K.S., Oswald, C., & Walters, B.M. (2009). Laboratory session to improve first-year pharmacy students’ knowledge and confidence concerning the prevention of medication errors. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 73(6), 99. https://doi.org/10.5688/aj730699
Kirwin, J.L., DiVall, M.V., Guerra, C., & Brown, T. (2013). A simulated hospital pharmacy module using an electronic medical record in a pharmaceutical care skills laboratory course. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 77(3), 62. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe77362
Medina, M.S., Plaza, C.M., Stowe, C.D., Robinson, E.T., DeLander, G., Beck, D.E., Melchert, R.B., Roche, V.F., Gleason, B.L., Strong, M.N., Bain, A., Meyer, G.E., Dong, B.J., Rochon, J., & Johnston, P. (2013). Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education 2013 educational outcomes. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 77(8), 162. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe778162
Rogers, J., Pai, V., Merandi, J., Catt, C., Cole, J., Yarosz, S., Wehr, A., Durkin, M.K., Kaczor, C. (2017). Impact of a pharmacy student-driven medication delivery service at hospital discharge. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 74(5 Suppleundefined1), S24–S29. https://doi.org/10.2146/ajhp150613
Sando, K.R., Elliott, J., Stanton, M.L., & Doty, R. (2013). An educational tool for teaching medication history taking to pharmacy students. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 77(5), 105. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe775105
Sen, S., Hadley, D., Patterson, B.J., & Patel, R.V. (2016). Development and implementation of a transitions of care elective course. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 8(3), 380–390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2016.02.019
Serag-Bolos, E.S., Miranda, A.C., Gelot, S.R., Dharia, S.P., & Shaeer, K.M. (2017). Assessing students’ knowledge regarding the roles and responsibilities of a pharmacist with focus on care transitions through simulation. Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning, 9(4), 616–625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2017.03.020
Shaver, A., Morano, M., Pogodzinski, J., Fredrick, S., Essi, D., & Slazak, E. (2019). Impact of a community pharmacy transitions-of-care program on 30-day readmission. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 59(2), 202–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2018.10.011
Snow, V., Beck, D., Budnitz, T., Miller, D.C., Potter, J., Wears, R.L., Weiss, K.B., Williams, M.V., (2009). Transitions of Care Consensus Policy Statement American College of Physicians-Society of General Internal Medicine-Society of Hospital Medicine-American Geriatrics Society-American College of Emergency Physicians-Society of Academic Emergency Medicine. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 24(8), 971–976. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-0969-x
Vavra, K., Paluzzi, M., de Voest, M., Raguckas, S., & Slot, M. (2018). Preliminary findings from a student pharmacist operated transitions of care pilot service. Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning, 10(1), 78–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2017.09.018
Volino, L.R., Das, R.P., Mansukhani, R.P., & Cosler, L.E. (2014). Evaluating the potential impact of pharmacist counseling on medication adherence using a simulation activity. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 78(9), 169. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe789169
Vyas, D., McCulloh, R., Dyer, C., Gregory, G., & Higbee, D. (2012). An interprofessional course using human patient simulation to teach patient safety and teamwork skills. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 76(4), 71. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe76471
Walker, P.C., Tucker Jones, J.N., & Mason, N.A. (2010). An advanced pharmacy practice experience in transitional care. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 74(2), 20. https://doi.org/10.5688/aj740220