Exploring the Impact of a Vicarious Learning Approach on Student Pharmacists' Professional Identity Formation Using a...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Professional Identity Formation
• Health Communication

Background:

• Didactic learning activities are essential for professional identity formation (PIF) in pharmacy students.
• Simulated patient encounters offer a valuable tool for PIF development.
• Integrating authentic practice scenarios into curriculum is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of a simulated pharmacist-patient encounter (PPE) on student pharmacists' PIF.
• To assess how analyzing and reflecting on a simulated PPE influences PIF.
• To identify key learning themes from vicarious experience in a simulated setting.

Main Methods:

• A 12-minute role-play video of a simulated pharmacist-patient encounter was created.
• Students observed, analyzed, and reflected on the PPE, focusing on counseling principles.
• Post-activity debriefs and thematic analysis of self-reflection essays were conducted.

Main Results:

• Key themes included enhanced awareness of counseling techniques, patient-friendly language, and empathy.
• Students recognized effective and areas for improvement in pharmacist role-modeling.
• The value of the observer role in learning was highlighted.

Conclusions:

• Simulated PPE exercises effectively enhance student pharmacists' PIF.
• Vicarious learning through simulated encounters promotes thinking, acting, and feeling like a pharmacist.
• Effective pharmacist-patient communication and optimal patient care are central to PIF.