Stakeholder Perspectives on Outcome Expectations of Pharmacy Graduates From a Caribbean School of Pharmacy

• Published in: American journal of pharmaceutical education 2013-06, Vol.77 (5), p.99-99, Article 99
• Main Authors: Sealy, Patricia Ingrid, Williams, Stella, Sa, Bidyadhar, Ignacio, Diane N., Extavour, Rian M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence; Colleges & universities; Communication; competency; Confidentiality; Core curriculum; Curriculum; Diffusion of Innovation; Drug stores; Education, Pharmacy - standards; Ethics, Professional; Feedback; Focus Groups; Health facilities; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Higher education; Humans; Internships; Learning; Medical education; Outcomes of Education; Perception; Pharmaceutical Education; Pharmacists; Pharmacists - psychology; Pharmacy; pharmacy graduates; Practice; Problem Solving; Professional-Patient Relations; School-to-work transition; Schools, Pharmacy - standards; Skills; stakeholders; Students; Students, Pharmacy - psychology; Supervision; Surveys and Questionnaires; Trinidad and Tobago
• ISSN: 0002-9459; 1553-6467
• DOI: 10.5688/ajpe77599

Objectives. To explore stakeholders’ views regarding the performance of pharmacy graduates upon entering the workforce and to identify curricular deficiencies and possible solutions. Methods. Practicing pharmacists, many of whom were members of government and pharmacy organizations, were asked to complete a 40-item questionnaire to determine their views regarding the educational outcomes of pharmacy graduates from a Caribbean pharmacy school. In addition, the stakeholders participated in focus group discussions to capture feedback not gathered on the questionnaire. Results. Ten stakeholders completed the questionnaire and 11 participated in the focus group discussions. Stakeholders rated graduates higher than average in 13 educational outcomes: application of knowledge and skills, patient care, communication skills, confidentiality, ethics, problem solving, and innovation. However, responses to open-ended questions and comments made during the focus group discussions identified deficiencies, which included a lack of clinical faculty members and qualified preceptors to teach pharmacy students, and the need to revise basic sciences courses. Conclusion. Feedback from key stakeholders suggests that the quality of pharmacy graduates is above average for the most part; however, additional work is needed to address the deficiencies identified.