Enhancing Student Knowledge Through a Comprehensive Oncology Simulation

Objective. To evaluate the impact of a comprehensive oncology simulation on pharmacy students' knowledge and perceptions related to oncology pharmacy practice. Methods. Third-year pharmacy students at the University of South Florida completed an ovarian cancer case-based simulation. Stations involved patient-specific order set completion, counseling, order verification, and aseptic technique. Pre- and post-simulation assessments regarding therapeutic knowledge and aseptic technique as well as perceptions of pharmacists' roles in oncology practice were evaluated. Results. All students (n=109, 100%) completed the pre- and post-simulation assessments. There was an increase in knowledge after the simulation, which was statistically significant in three of the six questions. Furthermore, students' perceptions regarding pharmacist roles and self-confidence in ability to prepare patient-specific regimens increased on a 5-point Likert scale from 3.8 and 3.2 to 4.5 and 4.2 on the post-assessment, respectively. Conclusion. Participation in the simulation improved students' oncology-related knowledge and perceived understanding of the roles of oncology pharmacists.