A comprehensive survey of penicillin allergy education among United States Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy

Background

Pharmacy students should be prepared to evaluate, manage, and de-label penicillin allergies. It is unknown if, and to what extent, education about allergy management is included within the curriculum of United States Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy (USCSP). This study sought to evaluate if and how penicillin allergy education is delivered and assess faculty perceptions of student readiness.

Methods

A cross-sectional, multicenter, observational survey was developed by infectious diseases (ID) pharmacy faculty and sent to ID faculty or department chairs at 138 USCSP. The 39-item questionnaire was divided into demographics, incorporation of targeted or aligned penicillin allergy education in the program, penicillin allergy topics delivered, and respondents' perceptions of penicillin allergy education.

Results

The survey response rate was 53% (73/138). The USCSP demographics included established for >20 years (65.8%), curriculum length of 4 years (83.6%), semester format (74.0%), and class size of 51–100 students (42.5%). Respondents described the incorporation of targeted or aligned penicillin allergy delivery (47.9%). Targeted delivery occurred in either the required (57.5%) or elective curriculum (31.4%). Topics included definitions/epidemiology (92.8%), cross-reactivity (92.8%), pathophysiology (88.1%), patient assessment (73.8%), skin testing (71.4%), and desensitization (71.4%). Delivery methods were lecture-based (92.8%) and case-based (66.7%). The median perception (scale of 1–10) of student preparedness for evaluating and managing penicillin allergies after completion of the required and elective curriculum was 5.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 3.7–7.0) and 5.0 (3.0–7.3), respectively. Most (52.1%) perceived that penicillin allergy education deserves more time. Faculty from 45% of responding USCSP perceived students to be prepared to evaluate and manage penicillin allergies. Prepared students were more likely to have received case-based education (54.5% vs. 25.0%, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Penicillin allergy education in USCSP varies considerably. Most ID pharmacist faculty perceived that many students were unprepared to evaluate and manage penicillin allergies, and that more time should be allocated to penicillin allergy education.