Evaluation of a Pilot Spanish Language Program for Student Pharmacists

Area of Science:

• Health professions education
• Medical education
• Pharmacist training

Background:

• Growing need for healthcare professionals proficient in Spanish to serve diverse patient populations.
• Limited structured programs for developing language skills in a healthcare context for student pharmacists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Spanish Language Track (SLT) for student pharmacists.
• To assess student outcomes, including language proficiency and cultural competency.
• To gather student feedback for program improvement.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods program evaluation of the first SLT cohort (N=10).
• Utilized pre/post-surveys and focus groups for data collection.
• Quantitative data analyzed using descriptive and frequency analysis; qualitative data thematically analyzed.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged: motivation, language skill development, health-focused immersion, cohort relationships, and areas for improvement.
• Quantitative data supported qualitative findings on participants' self-assessed Spanish language abilities.
• Students reported enhanced language skills and cultural understanding through program activities.

Conclusions:

• The SLT effectively enhances student pharmacists' language skills and engagement via immersive experiences and simulations.
• Peer and professional connections, along with simulated patient interactions, significantly contributed to learning.
• The SLT offers a replicable model for health professional programs to improve language-concordant care and health outcomes for Spanish-speaking patients.