Assessing experiential education factors contributing to a PGY1 residency match: Pharmacy residency program director and comparative student survey

Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2018 Feb;10(2):146-153. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2017.10.020. Epub 2017 Nov 10.

Abstract

Objective: To compare and contrast experiential education perceptions of pharmacy residency program directors (RPDs) and doctor of pharmacy students in their last year of the curriculum for residency application considerations.

Methods: The New England Regional Departments of Experiential Education (NERDEE) consortium developed a 17-question survey to assess residency factors, including those related to experiential education. The survey was dispersed to advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) students from six colleges/schools of pharmacy and RPDs nationwide.

Results: Students have different values on experiential preferences compared to RPDs. Sample findings include internal medicine and specialty clinical elective experiences prior to American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear were extremely important to important for students, while RPDs viewed these experiences as somewhat important at best (p < 0.02). The majority of RPDs (67%) have no APPE schedule preference, while most students (77%) feel that certain APPE schedules may influence acceptance into residency.

Conclusion: Based on findings, information outlined can be used to dispel and/or validate common beliefs held by students regarding experiential factors that help or hinder a successful postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) residency match.

Keywords: APPE; Experiential education; IPPE; PGY1 residency; Residency match.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude*
  • Curriculum
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internship and Residency*
  • Male
  • Personnel Selection*
  • Pharmacists
  • Pharmacy Residencies*
  • Problem-Based Learning*
  • School Admission Criteria
  • Schools, Pharmacy*
  • Students, Pharmacy*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires