(382) Evaluation of an Acute Care Pharmacotherapy Course on Pharmacy Student APPE Readiness and Post-Graduate Training

Trainee Category: Student Pharmacist

Objective : To evaluate the impact of a hybrid acute care pharmacotherapy elective on student readiness for acute care APPE rotations and decision to pursue post-graduate training.

Methods: Acute Care Pharmacotherapy was a newly developed professional elective offered to P3 pharmacy students at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the Fall of 2022. The course utilized a hybrid format involving pre-recorded lectures and weekly in-person active learning sessions through case-based activities. A pre- and post-course survey were administered to students enrolled to assess student readiness for acute care APPE rotations, confidence in managing various acute care conditions, and interests in pursing post-graduate training. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data collected from both surveys.

Results: A total of 16 students were enrolled in the course. Students who agreed or strongly agreed that they felt prepared for an inpatient APPE rotation increased from 0% in the pre-course survey to 81% in the post-course survey. Student confidence in managing various acute conditions increased for all conditions taught following course completion. Interest in post-graduate training increased from 73% in the pre-course survey to 88% in the post-course survey. All students agreed or strongly agreed after course completion that the elective was beneficial in preparing them for managing patients in acute care settings.

Conclusions: Student preparedness for APPE rotations, confidence in managing various acute care conditions, and interest in post-graduate training all increased following completion of the course.