Pilot Study Using An Online Platform “EPrescribe” in the Training and Assessment of 4th Year Medical Students’ Competency in Prescribing

Abstract

PURPOSEThe Association of American Medical Colleges has delineated 13 Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) that entering residents should be expected to perform on day 1 of residency without direct supervision. EPA4, Enter and discuss orders and prescriptions, describes an activity that all recent medical graduates (Interns) spend a great deal of time daily on.Additionally, with the ever‐increasing numbers of pharmaceuticals and biologics, there is a need for clinical pharmacology education in the curriculum to help students achieve EPA4. The Department of Medical Education at GCSOM partnered with the BPS to use their online platform in a two‐week clinical pharmacology elective for 4th year medical students. The hypothesis of this study was that completion of the program modules will enhance student learning and satisfaction with respect to prescribing.METHODSWe used the BPS Assessment platform which provides prescribing skills modules for learners, which they access through a cloud‐based, content‐rich online assessment environment, with real‐time feedback. The assessments were reconciled to the US context insuring they were relevant to our students. Mean scores before and after completing the modules were compared using a paired t‐test. Students also completed a satisfaction questionnaire.RESULTSTo date, 6 students have completed the program. The average scores (±SD) after completing the modules increased significantly (Before: 42%±14%; After: 74%±10%; p=0.001). This represented a normalized gain of 54%. Students tended to Agree/Strongly Agree to the 6 items related to the eLearning sessions, interface and assessment in the satisfaction questionnaire.CONCLUSIONSThe results indicate that students’ knowledge and skills in prescribing increased as a result of their study of the modules. Their high ratings of the program suggest that students found it useful. In conclusion, the BPS program facilitates students’ abilities in prescribing therapies or interventions beneficial to patients and will be helpful in meeting the expectations of EPA4 as students enter residency.