(37) Development and Implementation of a Clinical Placement Model for Pharmacy Students in Norway

Objective : To establish a comprehensive clinical placement program for Norwegian pharmacy students, integrating both hospital and community care settings

Methods: We used a multifaceted approach encompassing stakeholder engagement, iterative curriculum development, and piloting of clinical placement modules. We established formal placement agreements with health care institutions and developed assessment tools for evaluating student performance. Additionally, we initiated interprofessional learning activities with medical students and continuously sought innovative strategies to enhance student learning.

Results: We developed a 15 ECT course, entailing a seven-week clinical placement spanning three days weekly, supervised by experienced clinical pharmacists. The curriculum was enriched with practical exercises in medication reconciliation, medication review, and patient communication techniques. Complementary to the placement, the course offered weekly seminars for case-based discussions and interprofessional learning sessions. Collaborative agreements were established with the regional University Hospital to accommodate 32 students and with the Tromsø municipality for an additional four students. Students engaged in extensive practical tasks, averaging the identification of 2.5 medication discrepancies and 2.5 drug-related problems per patient encounter. Feedback from students conveyed a high level of satisfaction and an enhanced comprehension of the pharmacist's contribution to medication safety. However, they requested more supervision. Preceptors provided constructive feedback, pinpointing opportunities for the enrichment of pharmacotherapy knowledge and clinical competencies.

Conclusions: The clinical placement program for pharmacy students at UiT has been successfully developed and integrated into the pharmacy curriculum, garnering affirmative feedback from both students and clinical partners. The initiative has proven instrumental in equipping pharmacy students with the requisite skills for their prospective healthcare roles. Future plans include broadening the scope of the placement program to incorporate experiences within the pharmaceutical industry sector.