Fostering medication review competence of pharmacy students: An assessment by students and their preceptors after advanced‐level practical internship

Abstract

<div><h3>Aims</h3><p>The aim of this study was to introduce a new assessment method for pharmacy students' real-life competence in reviewing medications after obligatory advanced-level practical internship in Finland.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>The new medication review (MR) competence assessment method consisted of (1) a self-assessment by pharmacy students and (2) a performance assessment by their MR specialized preceptors at the completion of the advanced-level pharmacy internship during the third study year at the University of Helsinki, Finland. The assessment applied a structured and validated electronic evaluation tool based on national MR competence recommendations for pharmacists (31 items).</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Altogether 378 students and their MR preceptors assessed students' MR competence during the period of November 2020–December 2023. Majority of the students self-assessed their MR competence as very good (25%) or good (70%). Preceptors' estimates for students' MR competence were higher, as they graded 54% of the students with the grade very good and 43% with the grade good. Differences between students' and preceptors' assessments were statistically significant (<em>p</em> < .05) in all other statements except for ‘Understands the importance of medication reconciliation and prescription review in improving medication safety and outcomes’ (<em>p</em> = .829). The preceptors tended to assess students' MR competence as better than students themselves.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Combining self-assessment and assessment by an MR specialized preceptor forms a feasible method for assessing the real-life MR competence of students after advanced-level pharmacy internship. The involvement of the students' and preceptors' assessments can balance the effect of over- and under-estimation of the competence.<br></p></div>