Amy L. Ives , Diana M. Sobieraj , Michael Rudolph , Lisa Lebovitz
{"title":"Assessing the Alignment Between Pharmacists’ Reported Tasks and Employer-Advertised Skills","authors":"Amy L. Ives , Diana M. Sobieraj , Michael Rudolph , Lisa Lebovitz","doi":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101299","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101299","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study examined the alignment between and changes within the tasks performed by pharmacists and skills sought by pharmacist employers from 2012 to 2022.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*NET) surveys a random sample of employees in targeted occupations every 5 years and provides a publicly available database allowing exploration of the frequency with which essential tasks are performed and perceived relevance and importance. Lightcast (formerly Burning Glass) provides labor market analytics of job advertisements; cross-sectional and longitudinal data can be filtered according to occupation, industry, location, and area of specialty. A crosswalk was developed between the top 20 most frequently performed pharmacist tasks (O*NET) and the most frequently-advertised skills by employers for pharmacist positions (Lightcast).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The 5 most frequently performed pharmacist tasks changed minimally over the period, including prescription review and drug information and advice. There was a consistent upward trend in the frequency of interprofessional collaborations and informatics and a downward trend in compounding. Advertised skills fluctuated over the period, with business and management skills most desired. There was a decline in sought-after experience in specific health care settings and some fundamental clinical skills. Emerging skills pertained to patient care, such as vaccination, allergies, diabetes, and wellness.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The fact that prescription review remains the top task from O*NET over the past 10 years and the top advertised skill in Lightcast is patient care underscores the contemporary misalignment and highlights a potential discrepancy in the emphasis of pharmacy education.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55530,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education","volume":"89 1","pages":"Article 101299"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142916171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Morgan P. Stewart , Kenneth A. Lawson , Kathryn Litten
{"title":"Choose Your Own Adventure to Enhance Hypertension, Heart Failure, and Insulin Management Skills","authors":"Morgan P. Stewart , Kenneth A. Lawson , Kathryn Litten","doi":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101344","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101344","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) educational activities can be utilized in the classroom to simulate patient cases. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in pharmacy student knowledge and confidence in hypertension, heart failure, and insulin management skills after completion of CYOA activities.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Three CYOA activities were developed for 3 separate lectures in 2 pharmacy electives on topics of hypertension, heart failure, and insulin management. Two different online platforms were used for the activities. Before and after each activity, instructor-created surveys were administered to students to assess knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, 110 potential respondents completed at least 1 of the 3 activities between 2021 and 2023. Average knowledge and confidence improved for each disease-state individually and when combined as a whole. Satisfaction was high (>4.5/5) for all activities and no differences were seen between activity platforms.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The CYOA activities can be successfully implemented in Doctor of Pharmacy elective classrooms using a digital platform for a variety of disease states and skills. Knowledge and confidence were improved in each individual topic and overall. Students enjoyed this activity regardless of the platform. Validated surveys and follow-up assessments would be beneficial in the future to determine if knowledge gains are sustainable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55530,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education","volume":"89 1","pages":"Article 101344"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142815141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kathryn J. Smith , Jeff Cain , Lindsey M. Childs-Kean
{"title":"Rethinking the Pace of Productivity in Pharmacy Academia","authors":"Kathryn J. Smith , Jeff Cain , Lindsey M. Childs-Kean","doi":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In response to rising levels of burnout and stress among pharmacy faculty, there is a growing call to reassess traditional approaches to productivity and well-being within the Academy. We introduce a “slower” approach to faculty work, one that advocates for a deliberate focus on quality over quantity and promoting sustainable practices that prioritize meaningful contributions and personal well-being. The aim of this commentary is to encourage pharmacy faculty to embrace a slow mindset while maintaining the ability to contribute meaningfully to the lives of their students, patients, colleagues, and the profession of pharmacy. Drawing from Cal Newport’s book, <em>Slow Productivity</em>, principles of obsessing over quality, doing fewer things, and working at a natural pace are explained. Practical strategies are discussed, including reevaluating workload distribution, setting realistic project limits, and embracing seasonal variations in academic demands. These approaches aim to foster a supportive and balanced organizational culture within pharmacy academia, aligning individual aspirations with institutional goals. This commentary encourages pharmacy faculty to embrace a slower, more intentional approach to their work, promoting personal and professional fulfillment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55530,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education","volume":"89 1","pages":"Article 101338"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142803558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diana M. Sobieraj , Amy L. Ives , Michael J. Rudolph , Lisa Lebovitz
{"title":"Examining the Alignment of Pharmacists' Daily Tasks, Employer-advertised Skills, and the Entrustable Professional Activities","authors":"Diana M. Sobieraj , Amy L. Ives , Michael J. Rudolph , Lisa Lebovitz","doi":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To understand alignment of pharmacist jobs’ daily tasks, employer-advertised skills, and pharmacy education of entrustable professional activities (EPAs).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study team compiled the top 20 tasks pharmacists reported performing at least daily from the Occupational Information Network survey (2022), the top 50 employer-advertised skills from 89,819 pharmacist job postings in 2022 from Lightcast and the 13 EPAs from accreditation standards that define a practice-ready pharmacist. Two experienced faculty and licensed pharmacists mapped employer-advertised skills, each task performed at least daily, and the EPAs. Trends in alignment between what pharmacists report doing daily with these other stakeholder expectations were described.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the top 20 daily pharmacist tasks from the Occupational Information Network, 55% were categorized as product-centric. Legal compliance (30%) and prescription review (25%) were the employer-advertised skills most frequently mapped to these daily tasks. EPA 13 (pharmacy administration and operations) was the EPA most frequently mapped to daily tasks (45%). EPA 8 (education of the patient and others on medications) was the second most frequently mapped EPA to 30% of daily tasks.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Prescription processing, legal compliance, and operational pharmacy management are the most essential daily functions of today’s pharmacists, contrasting with the person-centered nature of the EPAs. Amid the curricular evolution that has occurred to meet the future vision of pharmacy practice, programs must, nonetheless, continue to teach the skills required for the existing marketplace to ensure that graduates are practice-ready for today’s positions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55530,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education","volume":"89 1","pages":"Article 101311"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142916279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tyler Marie Kiles , Ijeoma S. Anadi , Joshua T. Wollen
{"title":"Characteristics of Academic Pharmacy Fellowship Programs: Results of a Cross-Sectional Online Search","authors":"Tyler Marie Kiles , Ijeoma S. Anadi , Joshua T. Wollen","doi":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101339","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101339","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The pharmacy Academy faces an urgent need for diverse, experienced faculty members. However, although many faculty candidates may come from advanced training backgrounds, many do not have all the skills required to transition seamlessly into an academic role. Academic pharmacy fellowships are a promising strategy to address these gaps. The objective of this paper is to describe the information available online about academic pharmacy fellowships.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this cross-sectional review, a list of programs was compiled from multiple online sources over 1 year. For each program identified, available information related to the institution, application requirements, and program details was compiled into a database. The quality of the data in the database was evaluated using an analysis of missing values and data to error ratio.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 29 academic pharmacy fellowships were identified for the 2023–2024 application year, including 19 teaching-intensive and 10 research-intensive programs. In general, there is variability in the clarity and amount of information available online for these programs and a lack of standardization.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>For applicants seeking careers in academic pharmacy, there are diverse options; however, there is an opportunity for academic pharmacy fellowship programs to develop common language, timelines, and online presence. Further collaboration is necessary to ensure that pharmacy faculty and mentors are aware of these opportunities and are able to connect potential applicants to these programs to strengthen this endeavor.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55530,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education","volume":"89 1","pages":"Article 101339"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142803477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shanna K. O’Connor , Miranda Steinkopf , Nidhi Gandhi-Patel , Jennifer L. Bacci , Jennifer L. Adams
{"title":"It Can No Longer Be Optional—Medical Billing in the PharmD Curriculum","authors":"Shanna K. O’Connor , Miranda Steinkopf , Nidhi Gandhi-Patel , Jennifer L. Bacci , Jennifer L. Adams","doi":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101337","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101337","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pharmacists across the United States are rapidly gaining the ability to bill the medical benefit, increasing their ability to optimally and sustainably contribute to patient care. Medical billing is the process by which a provider submits a claim for reimbursement to the medical insurance benefit based on services provided to a patient. As pharmacists lean into new and expanding opportunities related to medical billing, pharmacy educators must also prepare graduates who can explain the importance of and execute skills related to medical billing. Colleges and schools of pharmacy must take action now to improve curricula to ensure student readiness upon graduation. Tools and resources are under development to help support faculty in implementing this curricular change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55530,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education","volume":"89 1","pages":"Article 101337"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142752397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lindsey E. Dayer , Kathryn L. MacCamy , Seth D. Heldenbrand , Kimberly C. McKeirnan , Jennifer D. Robinson
{"title":"A Multisite, Longitudinal Study Assessing Prevalence of Anxiety in Student Pharmacists","authors":"Lindsey E. Dayer , Kathryn L. MacCamy , Seth D. Heldenbrand , Kimberly C. McKeirnan , Jennifer D. Robinson","doi":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101334","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101334","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Conduct a multisite, survey-based study assessing rates of self-reported anxiety symptoms among student pharmacists enrolled in the first 3 professional years (PY1 to PY3) of a 4-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curricula.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study followed a cross-sectional observational design conducted at Washington State University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (WSU) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (UAMS). Student pharmacists in PY1 to PY3 of the PharmD curricula were invited to voluntarily complete the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale in order to self-report measures of anxiety. The GAD-7 is a validated 7-item instrument using a 4-point Likert scale.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 2022 surveys were evaluated from PY1-PY3 students at WSU and UAMS over a 5-year period (2019 to 2023). Overall, 882 (43.6%) completed surveys indicated the presence of moderate to severe anxiety according to the GAD-7. When asked about the difficulty of doing work, taking care of things at home, or getting along with other people, 487 (24.1%) respondents indicated “very” or “extremely” difficult using a 4-point Likert scale.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Behavioral and mental health support appears to be needed to support students living with symptoms of anxiety that are impacting life activities. Pharmacy educators should consider proactive approaches to improve mental well-being and support skill development related to anxiety management for student pharmacists. Future studies may include measuring change in student pharmacist anxiety over time with targeted interventions and studies to determine impact on reported levels of anxiety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55530,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 101334"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142669883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessment of Student-Reported Preparedness in Leadership and Professional Service Management Post Capstone Course","authors":"Tatiana Makhinova , Michelle Deng","doi":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101331","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101331","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Our objective was to explore the effectiveness and utility of a newly introduced capstone course for developing leadership and management skills in pharmacy students.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A secondary analysis was conducted on precourse and postcourse questionnaire data collected from third-year doctoral-level students and their mentors. The frequency and mean scores of responses to statements regarding confidence in leadership, management, and collaboration skills scored on the Likert scale were presented. Open-ended comments from students and mentors were also grouped and summarized.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>For all questionnaire items related to the confidence self-assessment, the majority of students responded either agree (40%–69% per question) or strongly agree (6%–56% per question). Students also showed a significant increase in confidence in their management skills after completing the course. Student comments and feedback regarding the course were grouped into 3 major categories: content, timeline/organization, and group dynamics.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Based on feedback from students and mentors, the capstone course is a valuable learning experience for pharmacy students and an effective tool for developing leadership, management, and collaboration skills. The value of in-person learning, engaged mentors, and real-world relevance for the capstone project is highlighted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55530,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 101331"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142683725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jacqueline M. Zeeman , Deepti Vyas , Kelly R. Ragucci
{"title":"Best Practices for Interprofessional Education to Meet the Curriculum Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activities","authors":"Jacqueline M. Zeeman , Deepti Vyas , Kelly R. Ragucci","doi":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101321","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>A proliferation of articles describe the importance of interprofessional education (IPE) in promoting a collaborative practice–ready workforce. As pharmacy programs implement, develop, and assess impactful IPE activities and experiences in their didactic and experiential curricula, it is important to consider various IPE frameworks and accreditation expectations. This article aims to elucidate best practices for high-quality IPE by taking into account the recently released 2022 Curriculum Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activities, 2023 Interprofessional Education Collaborative Competencies, and 2025 Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Standards.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Multiple factors were identified as important considerations for building and sustaining effective IPE programs, including (1) institutional readiness, (2) institutional culture, (3) infrastructure, (4) financial considerations, (5) faculty development, (6) curricular programming, and (7) outcomes assessment. Evidence supports these factors as best practices for quality IPE and articulates how these elements can be used to mitigate challenges and/or barriers experienced in developing, implementing, and advancing IPE.</div></div><div><h3>Summary</h3><div>Equipping learners with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to work effectively as part of an interprofessional team is key to developing a collaborative practice–ready pharmacy workforce. The 2023 Interprofessional Education Collaborative Competencies, which serve as a consensus framework to advance IPE, informed the development of the interprofessional collaboration elements in the 2022 Curriculum Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activities and 2025 Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Standards. Individual programs should leverage best practices related to institutional considerations, curricular development, and assessment to establish successful IPE programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55530,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 101321"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142633029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diana M. Sobieraj, Kathryn Wheeler, Marissa Salvo, Marie Smith
{"title":"Prescription for Curricular Revision: Application of Design Thinking Principles","authors":"Diana M. Sobieraj, Kathryn Wheeler, Marissa Salvo, Marie Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101325","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101325","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Continuous quality improvement of the professional curriculum can present as a series of complex problems to solve. Schools and colleges of pharmacy would benefit from a structured framework to approach complex problem-solving while engaging faculty and students throughout the process. Design thinking is a framework that promotes creative problem-solving while using techniques that make ambiguity and failure more comfortable during the iterative process. In this commentary, we describe how we applied the design thinking process to revise our professional didactic curriculum, concluding with a new plan of study approved by the faculty. We explain what we believe that our key drivers of success were the main challenges that we faced in each of the 5 phases of design thinking and what we did to overcome these challenges. Overall, design thinking led to a successful curricular revision that allowed transparency, established trust among participants, and democratized the lines of communication. As we move into the revised curriculum’s implementation, we anticipate some resistance as course coordinators and instructors develop courses incorporating the Curriculum and Curricular Assessment Committee vision of the designed curriculum. Developing a recurring process to maintain alignment between the intended, designed, and delivered curriculum is a necessary next step. This should allow earlier identification and quicker resolution of curricular concerns through a shorter and smaller scale design thinking process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55530,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education","volume":"88 12","pages":"Article 101325"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142717686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}