Abstract
Virtual patients are an active learning pedagogical tool which simulate clinical scenarios in a three-dimensional environment. Their use in pharmacy education is under-researched in comparison to other healthcare professions. In the United Kingdom, pre-registration training refers to a year of workplace based training which pharmacy graduates must complete prior to professional registration as pharmacists. This study aimed to evaluate pre-registration pharmacists' perceptions on the integration, usefulness and enjoyment of completing virtual patient simulations or non-interactive case studies as part of their training. Pre-registration trainees completed three virtual patient simulations or three non-interactive case studies on the topics of: emergency hormonal contraception, renal function and childhood illnesses. Telephone interviews were conducted with twenty pre-registration pharmacists, exploring their perspectives on the use of the virtual patient or non-interactive case studies. Data was analysed using the five-stage framework approach. Four main themes emerged from the data: case study design; usefulness of the case studies as a training tool; support in pre-registration training; utility of the learning tools. Trainees also identified technical issues they had experienced while completing the virtual patient simulations, specifically with keyword recognition. Pre-registration trainees who used the virtual patients provided comments relating to the novelty, realism and enjoyment in completing them. Trainees in both groups reported developing knowledge and skills from completing the case studies; those who used the virtual patient commented on the development of communication skills and an increase in confidence for practice and those who used the non-interactive cases focused on knowledge acquisition and numeracy. Participants were enthusiastic about virtual patients as a novel training tool which provided an opportunity for learners to practice realistic scenarios in a safe environment. Virtual patients offer the potential to 'bridge the gap' in pharmacist pre-registration sector-related training variation, promote learning through reflection on doing and increase overall preparedness for practice.
Highlights
To become a qualified pharmacist in the United Kingdom (UK) requires completion of a fouryear undergraduate Master’s degree at University and a fifth year of pre-registration training in practice
It is difficult to standardise this pre-registration year and ensure individuals get sufficiently similar experiences to meet the necessary outcomes as set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) [1]
In the Virtual patients (VPs) group, five trainees were from the hospital sector and four were from the community sector
Summary
To become a qualified pharmacist in the United Kingdom (UK) requires completion of a fouryear undergraduate Master’s degree at University and a fifth year of pre-registration training in practice. It is difficult to standardise this pre-registration year and ensure individuals get sufficiently similar experiences to meet the necessary outcomes as set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) [1]. Simulation-based learning can be instrumental in promoting experiential situated learning and bridging the gap between theory and practice without differences in educational outcomes [6]. Virtual patients (VPs) are an active learning pedagogical tool and were utilised in this research. They have been defined as “a specific type of computer based program that simulates real-life clinical scenarios; learners emulate the roles of health care providers to obtain a history, conduct a physical exam, and make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions” [8]. A distinguishing factor from other computer-based learning is that VP simulations should unfold in response to learner input [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
