Pharmacy Undergraduate Education: Can Student Primary Care Placements Add Value to Learning and Teaching?

Background: Clinical pharmacists are increasingly demonstrating their value within primary care; this process directly improves patient experiences and outcomes. However, many undergraduate pharmacy students have little or no experience in this area, so that when they first qualify from training, their previous lack of exposure could affect future patient care in this environment. Aim: This study aims to evaluate how pharmacy undergraduate students' learning and development of competencies are managed and received by general practitioner (GP) educators, clinical tutors, students, and patients in a general practice setting. Design and setting: The General Practice Pharmacy Educational Placement (GPEP) for undergraduates was designed and delivered in half-a-day each week across five weeks in general practice. Students observed patient consultations, interviewed patients, conducted medication reviews, used medicines reconciliation techniques, and also produced patient care plans. Method: Students participating in GPEP completed both pre- and post-course questionnaires rating eight learning outcomes, using a five-point Likert scale. Data analysis incorporated multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) strategies, and thematic analysis was applied to student focus groups, patient interviews, and GP staff interviews. Following the patient medication interview, students recorded findings and potential interventions for consideration. Results: A total of 112/157 students (71%) completed the questionnaires (October 2017–March 2019), with significant statistical differences in student confidence (p < 0.0005 for all learning outcomes). Thematic analysis revealed largely positive attitudes towards GPEP. Healthcare professionals highlighted benefits and challenges of GPEP. More than 40 issues relating to medicines optimisation and patient safety were identified, with some requiring immediate interventions from GP teams. Conclusions: GPEP demonstrated a positive clinical impact, improving patient safety. The undergraduate activities may encourage students to consider roles in primary and community care, enabling a resilient and able future workforce.