Simulation in the world of pharmacy: barriers and needs assessment
Basheti, I.
Abstract:
Objectives: To assess barriers reported by pharmacy students towards learning and demonstrating the correct use of common asthma inhaler devices; secondly to assess the effect of engaging students in a simulated scenario in which they counsel a real asthma patient on their ‘essential’ inhaler technique.
Methods: All 5th year (final year) pharmacy students enrolled in the Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics course unit participated in this interventional study. All students reported their perceived barriers towards learning and demonstrating the correct technique for three inhaler devices: Diskus, Turbuhaler and Metered Dose Inhaler. Effect of an educational intervention involving supervised hands on education in groups + Peer assessment + simulated scenario counseling a real asthma patient was explored (group B). Another group (group A) received ‘supervised hands on education in groups + Peer assessment only. Student’s demonstration skills on inhaler technique was assessed pre and one week post intervention. Inhaler technique assessment in this analysis involved investigating differences in correct ‘essential’ inhaler technique (essential steps are steps in the inhaler technique if performed incorrectly, little or no medication would reach the patient’s lung) for the three devices.
Results: The barriers reported by the students in both groups were similar and involved mainly insufficient in-class practice with the inhaler devices (55.05%), lack of practical training regarding patient educational skills (55.05%) and lack of knowledge about the importance of the topic (46.8%). Simulation resulted in significant differences in students’ correct ‘essential’ technique between group B and group A for the Diskus (98.2% vs. 79.6%, p=0.002, Chi Squared Test), Turbuhaler (92.7% vs. 75.9%, p= 0.016, Chi Squared Test) and Metered Dose Inhaler (94.5% vs. 53.7%, p<0.001, Chi Squared Test).
Conclusion: Engaging pharmacy students with real asthma patients in a simulated scenario involving correct inhaler technique education can result in significantly better ‘essential’ inhaler technique. Increasing student’s in-class practice with the inhaler devices and with real-patient education can eliminate barriers hindering many students from learning and demonstrating correct inhaler device technique.
Keywords: Simulation, pharmacy education, inhaler use
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APA citation
- Basheti, I. (2014). Simulation in the world of pharmacy: barriers and needs assessment. International Journal of Teaching and Education, 2(3), 45-66.