Description and Evaluation of a Pilot Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience in Addiction Medicine

Abstract

Objective. To assess the impact of a pilot advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) on fourth year (P4) Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students’ knowledge and confidence related to substance use disorders (SUD), harm reduction, and co-occurring psychiatric conditions.

Methods. Beginning in 2020, a 62-item assessment was developed and administered to P4 students at the beginning and end of the six-week APPE. The assessment tested knowledge in 10 content areas related to SUD, harm reduction, and co-occurring disorders. Students also ranked their confidence providing care related to each content area. The post-assessment included a free text item to provide feedback on the APPE experience. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used to analyze the data.

Results. Complete pre- and post-assessments were obtained from all participating students (n=7). The mean cumulative knowledge score increased from 55.2% to 81.5% and the mean cumulative confidence score improved from 34.2% to 81.8%. Free text responses garnered positive feedback from students stating the APPE allowed them to immerse themselves in all stages of the recovery process, increase confidence in presentation skills with patients, and solidified their passion for addiction medicine.

Conclusion. A novel APPE in addiction medicine addressed a current gap in pharmacy education, earned positive evaluations from student pharmacists, increased student knowledge and confidence related to SUD, harm reduction, and co-occurring disorders, and supported the development of new interprofessional collaborations. United States colleges of pharmacy that do not yet offer APPEs in this clinical domain should consider this model.