Incorporation of online clinical topic modules in an introduction to advanced pharmacy practice experience course

Abstract

BackgroundThe Purdue University College of Pharmacy offers an elective course for third professional year students preparing for rotations. In Spring 2012, the course introduced the use of online clinical topic modules that provide students with a review to prepare them for rotations and serve as a resource throughout rotations. ObjectiveThe objectives are (1) to assess fourth-year pharmacy students’ perceptions of important topics to facilitate the development of modules for the Introduction to APPE elective course; (2) to assess the perceived value of the modules to third-year pharmacy students who completed them as part of their coursework; and (3) to assess the perceived value of the modules to fourth-year pharmacy students who completed them during rotations. MethodsFourth-year pharmacy students were surveyed on their preferred important topics to be covered in the clinical topic modules. Third-year pharmacy students were surveyed on the perceived value of the resulting modules. Fourth-year pharmacy students were surveyed near the end of their rotation year to assess the perceived utility of the modules. ResultsThe top six inpatient and outpatient topics were chosen for inclusion. Experts in each of these topics then developed the modules. ConclusionThe inclusion of clinical topic modules in the Introduction to APPE course will augment foundational knowledge aiming to better prepare students for rotations.