Evaluation of pharmacy students' rural placement program: preparation for interprofessional practice

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Rural Health Workforce Development

Background:

• Limited data exists on pharmacy-specific placement programs and their post-graduation impact.
• Rural areas face challenges in attracting and retaining healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an innovative rural pharmacy placement program designed to encourage graduates to practice in rural settings.
• To assess students' intentions to return to rural practice following program participation.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire was administered to 58 final-year pharmacy students participating in rural placements in Victoria.
• A high response rate of 98% (57 students) was achieved.

Main Results:

• Students identified understanding rural practice, site visits, and preceptor attitudes as crucial for placement satisfaction.
• 72% of students expressed intent to seek rural employment due to increased rural awareness.
• Key program components for success included social awareness, recognizing job opportunities, and interprofessional learning.

Conclusions:

• The rural pharmacy placement program was highly valued by students, particularly site visits and interactions with rural health professionals.
• The program demonstrated potential in increasing students' inclination towards rural pharmacy practice.