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Geriatric care curriculum in US PharmD programs: What's happening?
Maria A Felton1, Jennie B Jarrett2, Susan M Meyer3
1UPMC St. Margaret Department of Medical Education, 815 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15215, United States.
Currents in Pharmacy Teaching & Learning
|December 14, 2017
Summary
Pharmacy schools are integrating geriatric care into Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs, often through introductory experiences. However, current methods may not adequately prepare pharmacists for the needs of the aging population.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Education
- Geriatric Pharmacy
- Curriculum Development
Background:
- Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) standards lack explicit requirements for geriatric content.
- The growing older adult population necessitates specialized pharmaceutical care.
- Existing pharmacy curricula may not adequately address the unique needs of geriatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and describe published examples of geriatric care integration within Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs in the United States.
- To analyze the strategies employed by accredited pharmacy schools to incorporate geriatric content into their curricula.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of PubMed and Embase databases was conducted.
- Manuscripts detailing the integration of geriatric care into US-based pharmacy curricula were included.
Main Results:
- Thirteen Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs provided published examples of geriatric care integration.
- Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) were the most common method for integrating geriatric care.
- Other common methods included integration into existing coursework and elective courses.
Conclusions:
- A diverse range of curriculum strategies are used to incorporate geriatric education into PharmD programs.
- Current integration efforts may be insufficient to meet the demands of an aging population.
- Further development of geriatric pharmacy education is crucial for future practice.
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