Development and implementation of a competency-based pharmaceutical compounding unit using pass/fail grading for...

To describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of the conversion of two pharmaceutical compounding units in pre-registration pharmacy programs to competency-based, grade-only units. The aim was to ensure the competence of graduates in pharmaceutical compounding and increase student and teacher satisfaction.

Relevant competencies were identified and learning and assessment activities designed to develop and assess these. The principles of constructive alignment and thoughtful use of formative and summative assessment underpinned the educational design.

243 undergraduate and 68 postgraduate students completed the revised units in 2023. Fail rates for both cohorts were consistent with previous years, while student satisfaction was slightly increased for the undergraduate and, decreased for the postgraduate cohort. Reflection and constructive feedback from students and the teaching team lead to changes to assessment design and content in 2024 to ensure essential knowledge and skills, provide students with early diagnostic feedback, focus on skill development, and reduce redundancy in assessment.

When appropriately designed, the change to grade-only, competency-based units of study provided a more holistic assessment of students' pharmaceutical compounding skills and increased both student and teacher satisfaction. The educational and assessment design principles described here address key challenges in contemporary higher education. Adequate resources to allow students multiple opportunities to develop skills and demonstrate competence, and ongoing reflection and adjustment of the educational design in response to staff and student feedback are keys to successful implementation.