Building Implementation Science Capacity in Academic Pharmacy: Report of the 2020-2021 AACP Research and Graduate...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy
• Implementation Science
• Academic Pharmacy

Background:

• The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Research and Graduate Affairs Committee (RGAC) aims to boost implementation research capacity in academic pharmacy.
• Previous RGAC efforts focused on advancing practice transformation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop resources and programs for training pharmacy faculty and graduate students in implementation science.
• To create a mechanism for pairing pharmacy faculty with implementation experts for practice advancement projects.

Main Methods:

• Developed a competency framework for graduate education in implementation science, building upon existing pharmaceutical sciences domains.
• Proposed a faculty development program leveraging the framework and existing resources for facilitated learning and peer support.
• Considered approaches to promote collaboration between pharmacy faculty and implementation experts, emphasizing interdisciplinary teams.

Main Results:

• A specialized competency framework for implementation research in pharmacy was created, applicable beyond graduate education.
• A faculty development program model was proposed, integrating the framework with external training resources.
• A collaborative model was favored, focusing on interdisciplinary teams of faculty, trainees, and preceptors for practice advancement projects.

Conclusions:

• AACP should cultivate a community of interest in implementation science within pharmacy.
• The proposed framework and programs can enhance faculty and graduate student research skills.
• Fostering collaboration and providing support are crucial for sustainable transformation of pharmacy practice.