Pharmacy student response to patient-simulation mannequins to teach performance-based pharmacotherapeutics

To design and implement a simulated patient-case assessment using a mannequin for critical care pharmacotherapeutic education of doctor of pharmacy students and to evaluate student satisfaction with the simulation.

During the second year of the doctor of pharmacy program, all students were required to complete Introduction to Critical Care. This course consisted of didactic education, written patient-case sessions, and an interactive patient simulation session. Information on the patient case was distributed to students after completing the didactic portion of the course. Patient information was programmed into a simulation mannequin, which demonstrated characteristics of a critically ill human. Students were surveyed post-simulation to determine the effectiveness of the learning experience.

The majority of students (88%) were extremely satisfied with the experience. The facilitator was considered to be extremely useful in 75% of responses.

By simulating a patient case, the facilitator was able to control students' learning environment, adapt the simulation to the level of the students' performance, and debrief students immediately. Ultimately, by involving students in actual patient cases early in the pharmacy curriculum, this type of education could produce pharmacists with a high level of expertise and confidence.