Assessing Self-Perceived Interprofessional Collaborative Competency on Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences Through Interprofessional Simulations

Abstract

<b>Objective.</b> To implement and assess the impact of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students participating in a required interprofessional (IP) simulation during an advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE). <b>Methods.</b> Fourth-year PharmD students completing APPEs were required to participate in one of three IP simulations during the 2016-2017 academic year to improve their interprofessional teamwork and collaboration skills. Pharmacy student self-perception of IP competence was measured by the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS), administered in a retrospective pre-/post-test design. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics to obtain an overview of the data. Paired <i>t</i> tests were used to compare the pre- and post-test results. <b>Results.</b> During the 2016-2017 academic year, 157 PharmD students were assigned to complete an IP simulation. Student scores on the six subscales of the ICCAS (communication, collaboration, roles and responsibility, collaborative patient-centered approach, conflict management, and team functioning) were compared. Scores in all categories significantly increased after completion of the simulation. <b>Conclusion.</b> Following participation in an IP simulation, PharmD students felt competent to engage in IP collaboration, and this, along with their performance on APPEs, determined their practice-readiness for IP teamwork upon graduation.