Curriculum renewal: Alignment of introductory pharmacy practice experiences with didactic course content

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Experiential Learning
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• The University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SSPPS) updated its curriculum.
• This renewal provided an opportunity to link didactic coursework with practical experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate and evaluate the application of didactic course content into Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs).
• To assess the success of this integration using qualitative feedback.

Main Methods:

• Students received lists of pharmacy skills and activities from didactic course directors.
• These activities were designed to reinforce semester-specific course content.
• Students completed assignments during their IPPEs in community or health system settings.

Main Results:

• Students successfully completed assignments, though modifications and simulated experiences were often required.
• Faculty and preceptors found the activities valuable for learning course material but challenging to implement.
• Feedback indicated the need for adjustments to facilitate completion within practice environments.

Conclusions:

• A renewed curriculum successfully mapped course assignments to experiential settings with modifications.
• Regular program adjustments improved preceptor feasibility of student activities.
• An optimal experience requires balancing structured assignments with independent learning opportunities.