Abstract

Introduction: Multi‐sector pre‐registration training is continually evolving and has become a popular choice for trainees1. In 2013 the University of Sunderland developed a novel pre‐registration training programme in collaboration with a regional community pharmacy. Since that time fourteen trainees have successfully completed the training but no formal evaluation has been previously conducted. This study explores the experiences of pharmacists having undergone such training.
Aim: To explore retrospective perceptions of registered pharmacists towards their experiences of pre‐registration training across academia and community pharmacy and to understand the benefits and limitations of such training. A focus was also placed on establishing trainees’ self‐perceptions of preparedness to practice after undergoing this training.
Methods: A purposive sample of registered pharmacists (n = 12) who undertook a pre‐registration training programme in academia and community pharmacy between 2013 and 2019 participated in one to one semi‐structured interviews. A recruitment email with details of the study was sent to potential participants (n = 14) who had completed the training programme during the specified timeline. Consent was obtained from participants prior to interview. The topic guide was designed by the project team to explore the positive and negative experiences of the training programme and perceptions of the participants’ preparedness to practice. Interviews were conducted over the telephone by an independent researcher. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was conducted using a framework approach.
Results: Thematic analysis highlighted three key themes with a range of sub‐themes (see Table 1).

Table 1. Results of thematic analysis
Theme
Sub‐theme
Supervision
Wide exposure to pharmacists from different practice backgrounds was identified as an influencing factor that helped the trainees develop
Continuous feedback from these supervisors enabled increased reflection and professional development

Self‐confidence
Participants discussed the responsibility they felt to help others learn and how that encouraged their own personal progression
The self‐imposed pressure to impress academic staff and integrate into an academic team served to enable a higher level of personal development

Participants perceived an increased preparedness to practice in comparison to their peers in single sector training

Meeting demands
Communication barriers between the different sites led to participants feeling ‘caught in between’ the two
Balancing the requests and expectations of different training sites was also highlighted as an additional pressure not experienced in single sector training

A high level of maturity in participants’ responses was also identified by researchers, potentially attributable to an obvious self‐motivation to improve and achieve.
Conclusion: Stakeholders involved in pre‐registration training and delivery of pharmacy education may find the results of this study informative and could potentially use the findings to influence development of further future multi‐sector pre‐registration training programmes involving academia. Multi‐sector pre‐registration training has been explored previously across hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy and general practice2, but there is a paucity of evidence regarding training in academia. The participants in this study perceived their training experience as being extremely positive with all participants stating they would encourage others to undertake similar training. The participants in this study had been selected as suitable trainees for a multi‐sector post based on academic ability and personal attributes so were by default likely to be highly motivated individuals.
References
1. Health Education England (2018). Evaluation Report – Applicant preferencing of prospective training programmes in the National Preregistration Pharmacist Recruitment Scheme for England and Wales. Available @ https://www.hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/National%20Pre-reg%20Pharmacist%20Recruitment%20Preferencing%20Evaluation%20Report.pdf
2. Wales Centre for Pharmacy Professional Education (2017). Evaluating a multi‐sector pre‐registration training programme in North Wales: perceptions of pre‐registration pharmacists and their tutors. Available @ http://www.nwssp.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/documents/1178/abstract_for_integrated_pre‐reg_pharmacists_posts_final1.pdf