An Introductory Over-the-Counter Simulation for First-Year Pharmacy Students Using a Virtual Pharmacy.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Digital Learning in Healthcare

Background:

• First-year pharmacy students require foundational knowledge in over-the-counter (OTC) product selection and patient counseling.
• Traditional community pharmacy practice experiences may not be accessible early in the curriculum.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a virtual OTC simulation on first-year pharmacy students' knowledge and confidence.
• To assess student perceptions of a virtual OTC simulation activity.

Main Methods:

• A virtual community pharmacy simulation using the MyDispense platform was implemented.
• Students completed pre- and post-activity surveys assessing knowledge and confidence.
• The virtual activity incorporated didactic and active learning strategies.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in overall knowledge scores were observed.
• Seven out of ten individual knowledge questions showed significant improvement.
• Student confidence in OTC medication knowledge and counseling significantly increased.
• Student perceptions of the virtual simulation were overwhelmingly positive.

Conclusions:

• Virtual pharmacy simulations effectively enhance early-stage pharmacy students' understanding and confidence in OTC counseling.
• This digital approach provides a valuable supplement to traditional didactic and experiential learning.
• The simulation is a well-received educational tool for foundational pharmacy practice skills.