An advanced pharmacy practice experience in community engagement.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Community Pharmacy Practice
• Interprofessional Healthcare

Background:

• Traditional pharmacy education often lacks exposure to community-based services.
• There is a growing need for pharmacists to engage in community health initiatives.
• Developing practical skills in diverse settings is crucial for pharmacy graduates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a 5-week advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) focused on community engagement.
• To assess the impact of this APPE on student confidence and competence in delivering community-based pharmacy services.
• To explore student engagement in health promotion and interprofessional collaboration within community settings.

Main Methods:

• Students participated in a 5-week APPE, collaborating with community partners.
• Key activities included medication reconciliation, attending interprofessional meetings, developing health promotion programs, and conducting medication therapy reviews.
• Data were collected through pre- and post-APPE surveys, preceptor evaluations, and documentation of student recommendations.

Main Results:

• The APPE successfully provided students with hands-on experience in community settings.
• Students reported increased confidence and enhanced skills in health promotion, medication therapy management, and interprofessional patient care.
• Evaluations indicated positive student engagement and skill development.

Conclusions:

• The implemented APPE effectively prepared pharmacy students for community-based practice.
• This experiential learning model enhances essential skills for modern pharmacy, including health promotion and interprofessional collaboration.
• The APPE demonstrates a valuable approach to training future pharmacists in diverse, patient-centered community roles.