INNOVATIONS in pharmacy

A Precepting-Focused Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience in Academia

Andrew Darley

University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

Ashley N. Hannings

University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

Linda D. Logan

University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

Kay L. Brooks

University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v11i4.2419

Keywords: advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE), introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE), academic pharmacy, precepting, layered learning

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Abstract

Description of the Opportunity: Traditional advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) in academia provide students exposure to job responsibilities and expectations of pharmacy faculty members. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the development and structure of a precepting-focused academic APPE, APPE student perceptions of the experience, and introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) student perceptions of being precepted by APPE students.

Innovation: An academic pharmacy APPE was developed to emphasize preceptor development in addition to traditional academic pharmacy topics and responsibilities. Pre- and post-experience surveys were completed by APPE students to collect perceptions of academic pharmacy and precepting. During the experience, APPE students, under the supervision of faculty, precepted IPPE students, who were given the opportunity to assess the APPE student’s precepting ability by completing a survey following the experience. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results.

Findings: Nine students completed the academic APPE and the corresponding pre- and post-surveys. All students indicated the rotation increased their understanding of academia, and the majority (7/9) indicated an increased confidence in their precepting ability. Eighty-five IPPE students evaluated the APPE students, and the majority (78%) rated the quality of instruction from APPE students as “similar” to faculty instruction.

Conclusion: The structure of this experience allowed APPE students to gain exposure to academia and increase confidence in precepting, while facilitating the delivery of the IPPE program. Results indicate offering an academic APPE with an emphasis on experiential teaching is a potential strategy to prepare future pharmacy preceptors.