Evaluation of a longitudinal advanced pharmacy practice experience

Abstract

Objective. To describe satisfaction and career path of students who participated in the longitudinal advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE). Methods. A 3-part survey was administered to students enrolled between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2013. The sections of the survey evaluated respondents’ baseline characteristics, satisfaction, and career path. Results. Majority of the respondents had a GPA above 3.0 (91%), pharmacy school honors (84%), work experience in retail (16%) or multiple pharmacy sites (38%), and were members of at least one professional organization (76%). Sixty-nine percent reported that the program exceeded their expectations. Strengths included practice site consistency, rotation diversity, preceptors, presentations, and collaboration with health care professionals. Students gained approximately 76 hours of additional clinical experience, compared to if they completed rotations at individual sites. After graduation, more than half of the respondents accepted a pharmacy practice residency (67%). Conclusion. The results of this study support the need for APPE programs that prepare students to deliver advanced patient care, while providing them with professional development.