Scholarly Expectations, Productivity, and Barriers Among Directors and Deans of Experiential Education

To determine the scholarly productivity of deans/directors of experiential education (DEE) and, secondarily, to characterize their research/scholarship expectations, effort distribution, and perceived barriers to research/scholarship productivity.

A literature search was conducted through Web of Science and 5 pharmacy practice/education journals. Publication rates for abstracts and manuscripts were computed for DEE with at least 3 years' experience in their role. To address the secondary objectives, a 25-item, online survey containing a 5-point Likert scale and multiple-choice items was distributed to 227 DEE at 142 colleges/schools of pharmacy (C/SOPs). Nonparametric and parametric tests were used to compare and contrast research/scholarship productivity and DEE perspectives by institution type and Carnegie classification.

The median annual abstract, manuscript, and combined abstract/manuscript publication rates among DEE (n = 126) were 0.19 (interquartile range [IQR] = 0-0.45), 0.31 (IQR = 0.07-0.66), and 0.53 (IQR = 0.23-1.14), respectively. DEE at public and high/very-high research activity institutions published at a higher rate than those at private and doctoral/professional universities, respectively. Seventy-five DEE completed the survey (32% response rate). Forty-three (57%) respondents indicated that research/scholarship was expected of them and reported an average of 7% effort allocation to research/scholarship; this was comparable by institution type and Carnegie classification. Respondents identified service/administration load and lack of protected time for research/scholarship as the most impactful barriers to research/scholarship engagement.

Publication rates among DEE are lower than those of other pharmacy practice faculty. This is associated with variable research/scholarship expectations and low effort allocation to this academic pillar. C/SOPs whose mission encompasses research/scholarship should provide DEE with protected time to enhance scholarly productivity.