Design and Assessment of a Pharmacy Student–Delivered Preceptor Development Program

Abstract

Objective. To design and assess the use of a pharmacy student delivered preceptor development (SDPD) program.Methods. An SDPD program was developed to ensure all preceptors received documented preceptor development. A menu of discussion topics and associated teaching sheets were created by the school's Office of Experiential Education (OEE). On each rotation, Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students led discussions with their preceptors on a topic chosen by the preceptor and submitted documentation of the education. Preceptors answered a survey related to the amount of information and time required of the SDPD program, their preference for different formats of preceptor development, one important thing learned through the SDPD program, and future development topics of interest. Students were interviewed regarding their perceptions and use of the SDPD program. Results. A novel SDPD program resulted in documentation of preceptor development for all APPE rotations. Seventynine preceptors (31% response rate) participated in the survey. Preceptors agreed they were able to customize their preceptor development (M=3.7, SD=0.84), incorporate what they learned into practice (M=3.7, SD=0.74), it was a convenient format (M=4.0, SD=0.66), and the SDPD was valuable to prepare students to be future preceptors (M=4.2, SD=0.64). Students reported the SDPD improved their confidence in communicating with a supervisor and prepared them for precepting.Conclusion. An SDPD program improved documented preceptor development. The program allowed preceptors to customize development opportunities in a convenient format. It was perceived positively by preceptors who would recommend the SPDP model to other schools of pharmacy for preceptor development.

Pharmacist Preceptor Exposure, Comfort and Awareness of Resources to Address the Social Determinants of Health—A Pilot Study

“…Alternatively, pharmacy students may also be leveraged to educate preceptors on SDOH through innovative educational models. For example, one study incorporated student-delivered preceptor development during APPEs [ 26 ]. Experiential learning faculty trained students to educate their preceptors from a menu of topics through one-to-one discussion during the students’ rotation.…”