Longitudinal placements for trainee pharmacists: Learning whilst improving patient care

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pharmacy Practice
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships (LICs) are globally recognized for enhancing medical student learning and development.
• The continuity and workplace immersion inherent in LICs are crucial for learner development.
• Exploring the viability of LIC models for trainee pharmacists is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the local viability of a longitudinal placement for trainee pharmacists in a hospital ward setting.
• To apply communities of practice learning theory to interpret the findings of the longitudinal placement.

Main Methods:

• A design-based research approach was employed for study design.
• A 13-week longitudinal placement was implemented across two hospital wards.
• Qualitative longitudinal analysis, including trainee and staff interviews, was conducted using abductive analysis.

Main Results:

• Trainee pharmacists progressively gained membership within the multidisciplinary ward team.
• This integration led to an enriched learning experience and professional development, with trainees assuming greater responsibilities.
• Increased medication consultations and improved discharge times were observed, indicating enhanced patient care contributions.

Conclusions:

• The success of longitudinal placements for trainee pharmacists is strongly linked to their ability to integrate into the ward's community of practice.
• Acquiring membership facilitated access to learning opportunities, supported professional growth, and earned staff trust, leading to expanded patient care roles.
• Further research is recommended to develop longitudinal placements that foster community of practice integration for trainees across healthcare professions.