A longitudinal qualitative study examining the impact of Check-In, a novel learning activity on burnout for pharmacy...

Burnout is a phenomenon that can occur in any occupation, but pharmacists may be more prone to its effects. Because of its relevance to the pharmacy profession, the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy incorporated an active learning activity to teach pharmacy students about healthcare provider burnout. This activity, named Check-In, was launched in March 2020 and consisted of one-on-one check-ins between pharmacy students and staff. As the first learning activity of its kind, the researchers wished to investigate the ongoing impact of Check-In.

This qualitative, descriptive study was composed of telephone interviews with 13 students that partook in Check-In. These interviews were held at two different timepoints: six and 18 months post-activity. Participants were recruited until data saturation, and transcripts underwent thematic analysis.

Four themes were identified from the interviews: (1) Check-In was a valuable learning activity; (2) students performed some form of checking in post-activity; (3) burnout could be recognized and defined by students; (4) Check-In's place in the pharmacy curriculum still needs to be determined.

Check-In is an innovative learning activity to teach pharmacy learners about healthcare provider burnout. It can be utilized by pharmacy institutions to incorporate wellness and student mental health into curriculum.