Instructional and Assessment Redesign of a Sterile Compounding Course Using Immersive Simulation.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Sterile Compounding

Background:

• Traditional sterile compounding courses require updates to align with current pharmacy practice.
• Integrating advanced content and immersive simulations is crucial for effective training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To revise a sterile compounding course with updated content, competencies, and simulations.
• To enhance student preparedness for contemporary sterile compounding pharmacy practice.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a three-module course: fundamental skills, skill integration, and specialty topics.
• Utilized didactic sessions, laboratory exercises, and increasingly complex simulations.
• Assessed effectiveness through checkpoint assessments, mock and final objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), and student evaluations.

Main Results:

• Post-implementation students showed improved perceptions in critical thinking, concept integration, and feeling challenged.
• Student performance on laboratory summative assessments significantly improved after course revision.
• Written examination scores did not show significant change between cohorts.

Conclusions:

• The redesigned sterile compounding course offers a practical model for instruction and assessment.
• The updated curriculum effectively enhances student engagement and practical skills in sterile compounding.
• This approach provides a blueprint for modernizing pharmacy education in sterile compounding.