(84) Preceptor Week: Mini-Sessions to Promote Preceptor Development

Objective : Provide an innovative learning opportunity to train pharmacy preceptors.

Methods: In early Spring 2023, four, fifteen-minute preceptor knowledge-based continuing education (CE) programs were presented via Zoom. Topics included; “Motivating Learners on Rotation”, “The Art of Feedback”, “Creating Relationships with Your Learners” and “Dealing with Challenging Learners on Experiential Rotations”. The topics were derived from a combination of needs assessment surveys and experiential rotation evaluations. The event was advertised to preceptors across the country. Each participant was required to complete an evaluation for each presentation they attended. Based on comments after the first presentation, adjustments were made to the 15-minute presentation to add on an optional 15-minute Q & A for those who were interested.

Results: Attendance averaged 618 participants each day with 219 learners attending all four sessions. The learners joined from thirty-nine states and Canada. Positive feedback was provided in the evaluations with 99% of participants stating the CPE activities met their educational needs, 99% stating the teaching and learning methods were useful, and the speaker received a 99% approval rating for all four programs. Approximately 50% of attendees remained online following the formal CE program for an optional question/answer session with the presenter. A three-month follow-up survey will be sent to all learners who attended the CE presentation(s) to help assess long-term impact of programming.

Conclusions: Preceptor Week proved to be a success, and it appears preceptors are receptive to small boluses of educational information. Future programming utilizing this model should be considered to continue to explore the impact of this type of training.