Impact of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences on Residency Interview Invitations

Abstract

Objective. To determine how postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency program directors perceive factors related to advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) when selecting candidates for residency interviews. Methods. An online cross-sectional nationwide survey of 1,280 PGY1 residency program directors was conducted. Participants were asked to rank the overall influence of five APPE categories, including location, structure, elective type, timing, and preceptor references, as well as the desirability and necessity of APPE-related variables representing the five categories, in their assessment of residency candidates. Results. Program demographics and survey data were collected from 375 participants (29% response rate). The category most influential to program directors' decisions was APPE preceptor reference letters, while the category that was the least influential was APPE timing factors. An APPE's location, structure, and elective type ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively, as the most influential categories. Respondents perceived factors similar to their own residency environment as desirable, supporting the study's conceptual framework of person-environment fit. The variables that the majority of residency directors specifically desired were two reference letters from APPE preceptors and letter grades for each APPE completed. Completion of inpatient elective APPEs was considered more desirable than completion of a balanced mix of elective APPEs. Participants rarely indicated that a specific APPE variable was a necessity for a candidate to be considered. Conclusion. Applicants to pharmacy residency programs should consider the importance of personenvironment fit when selecting APPEs and preparing applications as program directors desire candidates who possess attributes compatible with their organization and complete APPEs in settings similar to that of their organization. Conversely, the absence of desired APPE-related variables does not necessarily exclude an applicant from consideration.

Factors associated with attaining a pharmacy residency interview: A scoping review

“…The authors identified 13 studies meeting inclusion criteria related to the objective of this scoping review (Figure 1) and are described in Tables 1-3. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] The studies were grouped into three categories: retrospective analysis of previous applications received (Table 1), 15,16,24 RPD survey evaluating the relative importance of candidate characteristics (Table 2), 17,[19][20][21][22][23]25 and contributions of candidate references for interview attainment (Table 3). 13,14,18…”

“…Seven studies evaluated the importance of application criteria when selecting an applicant for a residency interview 17,19–23,25 . Four studies collected data via surveys sent to RPDs of ASHP‐accredited residency programs 20–23 .…”

“…17,[19][20][21][22][23]25 Four studies collected data via surveys sent to RPDs of ASHP-accredited residency programs. [20][21][22][23] Surveys gathered responses from RPDs of PGY1 pharmacy residencies, 19 PGY1 community pharmacy residencies, 17 combined PGY1/PGY2 residency programs, 19 and at a consortium of academic medical centers. 25 Multiple programs ranked letters of recommendation as one of the most important factors when selecting residency candidates for interview, 17,[19][20][21]25 and letter of intent was highly ranked for several RPDs.…”

Effects of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Characteristics on Postgraduate Year 1 Residency Match Rates

“…Additionally, a cross sectional survey of residency directors indicated that “person-organization fit” is desirable when selecting candidates for interviews, meaning that students completing APPEs with characteristics most similar to the residency they are applying for are more likely to receive an invitation to interview. 16 This could also provide an explanation for this result as an ambulatory care clinic within a hospital or large physician group could be perceived as more similar to a hospital residency site.…”

“…9 Based on previous studies, pharmacy students appear to perceive clinical rotations timing prior to MCM as very important; on the other hand, residency program directors appeared to consider it as somewhat important, at best, and least influential compared with other APPE characteristics. 15,16 Prior hospital work experience has been associated with a higher likelihood of a student pursuing postgraduate training, but the timing of hospital rotations has not been consistently associated with successful matching. 17,18 Our findings suggest that completion of a hospital rotation prior to MCM is associated with matching.…”