Impact of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiential Student-Led Seminars on Competencies of Retail Pharmacy Students Enrolled in Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of Advanced Pharmacy Practice fourth-year student-led seminars (APPE) by comparing first-year students’ knowledge, self-confidence, and competence before and after completing Introductory Community Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) program. Design: Pre-posttest, quasi-experimental design. The program included classroom seminars and hands-on learning sessions in three general topics including blood pressure, asthma and respiratory health, and women’s health. Pre-post test instruments measured students’ knowledge, confidence, and competence. Besides selfassessment of competency provided by first-year students, post intervention assessment was performed by fourthyear students; performing correlation was done between the first- and fourth-year students’ competency assessment. Assessment: Students’ knowledge, confidence, competency in three topics including overall mean score significantly improved after completing the program (p<0.001). Correlation of self-rated and peer-rated competence assessed by first- and fourth-year students instructors was also highly significant (r=0.72, p<0.001). Conclusion: The APPE fourth- year student-led seminar was an effective and efficient approach to training firstyear students enrolled in community pharmacy IPPE. The program improved students’ knowledge, confidence, and competence.