(106) Patient Assessment Skills Taught within Doctor of Pharmacy Laboratory Courses in the United States

Objective : Patient assessment skills taught throughout the country vary widely among Doctor of Pharmacy programs. This study identifies the skills included within laboratory courses to better understand the similarities and differences within pharmacy curricula.

Methods: The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Laboratory Instructors Special Interest Group (SIG) formed a study team that developed a 23-item survey distributed to all its members involved in the instruction of patient assessment skills within their respective Doctor of Pharmacy programs. The survey included questions on respondent demographics and patient assessment skills considered essential by the study team after evaluation of the available literature. A total of 134 out of the 142 accredited programs in the country were represented and received the electronic survey via the Qualtrics software platform.

Results: Survey responses were received from 51 individuals from 47 Doctor of Pharmacy programs representing 29 states throughout all regions of the U.S. (response rate = 35%). More than 50% of respondents were faculty directly involved in the delivery of instruction related to patient assessment skills in 4-year programs (74%) at public institutions (58%). Skills that were identified as being taught and assessed by more than 50% of respondents included blood pressure, pulse, glucose fingersticks, inhaler and emergency device use, and vaccination techniques. More than 59% of respondents reported that anal/rectal, breast, prostate, and testicular examinations are not covered in their laboratory courses.

Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate the need for additional investigation on the patient assessment skills that practitioners are using in contemporary practice in order to better align with those being taught within pharmacy curricula.