Pharmacy interns' perceptions of knowledge and skills required for delivery of patient care services

To explore how pharmacy interns' training experiences during internship influence understanding and confidence about preparation for providing patient care services in a large community pharmacy chain.

A descriptive survey design using a census sample of the 98 pharmacy interns, aged 18 years and older, employed in 52 pharmacies of one community pharmacy chain was conducted. Training experiences influencing understanding and confidence were evaluated with the use of a 38-question survey instrument developed with a focus group of pharmacy interns and distributed via Qualtrics over a period of 12 weeks. Responses were stored in Qualtrics and analyzed with the use of SAS version 9.4.

Thirty-four surveys were returned, for a response rate of 35%, with a 20% response rate for all of the questions. Pharmacy interns who completed the American Pharmacist Association "Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services" certificate training program were more likely to agree with statements evaluating understanding (P < 0.02) and confidence (P < 0.09) in completing a comprehensive medication review and less likely to indicate a need for training (P < 0.02). Pharmacy interns have a greater understanding and confidence incorporating immunizations into workflow (both 85%). They also have a greater understanding and confidence in using Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for immunization recommendations (90% and 85%, respectively). Pharmacy interns reported that they did not have a strong understanding of and confidence level in providing other patient care services, including medication therapy management services, clinical queue, and point-of-care testing. Survey respondents reported a desire for additional training in these areas.

Although pharmacy interns have a greater understanding of how to incorporate immunizations into pharmacy workload and use immunization guidelines, levels of understanding and confidence in providing other patient care services were not as strong. Future development of training for patient care services may help to increase pharmacy intern understanding and confidence.