How Pharmacist Preceptors Foster Students' Therapeutic Reasoning Using the One-Minute Preceptor Method

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Reasoning
• Preceptor Training

Background:

• Effective clinical precepting is crucial for developing medical trainees.
• The One-Minute Preceptor (OMP) method is a structured approach to clinical teaching.
• Assessing the impact of OMP training on preceptor behavior and student reasoning is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the use of OMP methods by trained versus untrained preceptors.
• To evaluate whether OMP training enhances students' expression of therapeutic reasoning.
• To investigate the impact of different precepting styles on clinical case presentations.

Main Methods:

• A pilot quasi-experimental study design was employed.
• Four preceptors received OMP training; three did not.
• Audio recordings of student case presentations were coded for OMP use and therapeutic reasoning.

Main Results:

• OMP-trained preceptors more frequently used specific OMP techniques.
• However, students of non-OMP trained preceptors demonstrated more frequent articulation of assessments and treatment plans.
• Students with non-OMP preceptors also initiated reasoning discussions more spontaneously.

Conclusions:

• Current OMP training may not effectively elicit student therapeutic reasoning.
• Further research is needed to identify optimal precepting methods for fostering clinical reasoning skills.
• Pragmatic and effective strategies for preceptor development require further investigation.