Creating Competencies for Providing Care in a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Manner: A Delphi Technique

Competencies related to diversity could be essential to training and assessing student pharmacists in their readiness to provide equitable and inclusive care. Such competencies are lacking in pharmacy education; therefore, this study aimed to explore the development of diversity competencies and supporting factors needed to prepare students to meet the competencies and provide patient care in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive manner.

Pharmacy diversity thought leaders were invited to participate in a 3-round modified Delphi survey. Survey items were created using a Backward Design. Qualitative data were analyzed using the Constant Comparative Method. Draft competency statements were created based on the collective comments from Round 1 along with themes related to the supporting factors needed to achieve the competencies. Consensus on themes, competency statements, and edits were identified in Round 2. Additional comments and feedback on edits were gathered in Round 3. Consensus was preset at 85.7%.

Seven competency statements were created. Knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors, values, curricular content/pedagogy, and resources needed to prepare students to meet the competencies and support faculty would need were identified.

Preliminary diversity competencies and supporting factors needed were developed using the perspective of thought leaders. Further evaluation, including the development of student-appropriate competencies, testing and validation of content and assessment tools, and determining place in the pharmacy curriculum, are future steps that should be considered in the competency development process.