Do fourth year pharmacy students use Facebook to form workplace-based learning peer groups during rotations?

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Social Media in Higher Education
• Experiential Learning

Background:

• Investigating the use of Facebook® by pharmacy students for professional peer interactions.
• Assessing the formation of formal and informal workplace-based peer groups during APPEs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand if pharmacy students utilize Facebook® for peer learning and information sharing during APPEs.
• To explore the nature and extent of social media use in professional development for pharmacy students.

Main Methods:

• Recruited fourth-year pharmacy students from two colleges.
• Conducted focus groups with students who met inclusion criteria (completed ≥2 APPEs, local rotation, Facebook® profile).
• Employed thematic analysis to interpret student responses regarding social media use.

Main Results:

• Students used Facebook® to gather information on rotation expectations, roles, and preceptors.
• Interaction frequency and depth varied; most preferred private communication channels for detailed learning.
• Facebook® was recognized as a valuable tool for motivation and support during experiential learning.

Conclusions:

• Social media platforms like Facebook® can facilitate the creation of virtual workplace-based peer groups for students.
• Pharmacy institutions may integrate social media into programs supporting formal workplace learning.