An assessment program using standardized clients to determine student readiness for clinical practice.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Competence Assessment
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• Identifying students at risk of underperforming in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) is crucial for patient safety.
• Current assessment methods may not adequately predict performance in real-world clinical settings.
• Early identification allows for targeted remediation to improve student outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a competence-assessment program for pharmacy students.
• To identify students at risk of underperforming during APPEs.
• To facilitate remediation before students assume patient care responsibilities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a standardized client program with realistic, live client-encounter simulations.
• Developed authentic scenarios and trained actors to portray diverse patient cases.
• Evaluated students on knowledge and live performance, using surveys and video analysis.
• Employed clerkship performance predictions to identify students needing support.

Main Results:

• The assessment program demonstrated effectiveness in distinguishing between prepared and at-risk students.
• Simulation fidelity was maintained through actor training and scenario realism.
• Student feedback indicated high case realism and challenge levels.

Conclusions:

• The developed competence-assessment program shows promise in identifying students at risk for APPE underperformance.
• This proactive approach can improve student preparedness and patient care outcomes.
• Simulation-based assessments are valuable tools in pharmacy education.