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Sunderland Repository records the research produced by the University of Sunderland including practice-based research and theses.

Community pharmacy as an effective teaching and learning environment: Student perspectives from a UK MPharm programme

Bullen, Kathryn, Davison, Kathryn and Hardisty, Jessica (2019) Community pharmacy as an effective teaching and learning environment: Student perspectives from a UK MPharm programme. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. ISSN 1877-1297

Item Type: Article

Abstract

Introduction: In order to increase new pharmacists' preparedness for clinical practice, pharmacy education in the United Kingdom (UK) is moving towards a five-year integrated degree incorporating the pre-registration year into the undergraduate programme. The purpose of this
research is to explore masters of pharmacy (MPharm) student attitudes towards experiential learning and assess community pharmacy as a teaching and learning environment.
Methods: MPharm students (n=857) at one UK pharmacy school were invited to complete an online questionnaire. Responses were statistically analysed while open comments were thematically analysed.
Results: Students were positive about placement organisation, with over 80% agreeing the
pharmacist and support staff were enthusiastic and well-prepared. However, 62% of respondents
felt they were unable to interact with patients on placements and instead spent time completing pre-determined learning tasks. Seventy-seven percent felt these tasks limited real “hands-on” experiences. Although 78% of respondents believed placements provided a valuable learning
experience, only 18% thought placements prepared them for post-graduate employment.
Conclusions: Community pharmacy environments are often busy and unpredictable, and experiential learning should be designed to allow better exposure to clinical practice with less predefined learning. Placements should allow for more collaborative working between universities and employers and incorporate the use of learning standards. This would represent a move towards a five-year integrated degree and a better understanding of the associated challenges involved.

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More Information

Depositing User: Jessica Hardisty

Identifiers

Item ID: 10956
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2019.05.007
ISSN: 1877-1297
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/10956
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2019.05.007

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Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 10 Mar 2020 09:17
Last Modified: 30 Sep 2020 10:46

Contributors

Author: Kathryn Bullen
Author: Kathryn Davison
Author: Jessica Hardisty

University Divisions

Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing > School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Subjects

Sciences > Pharmacy and Pharmacology

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