Experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate pharmacy students in community pharmacies in the United Kingdom

Abstract

© 2020 Pharmacy Management. The article can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://www.pharman.co.uk/uploads/mediacentre/JOPM_Journal_January_2020_V7.pdfPharmacists in the UK are a resource at many levels of patient care, regularly providing expert clinical advice with and without appointment or signposting to appropriate help or support. The NHS is under increasing pressure to deliver services and pharmacists play an increasing role in helping people understand how to use their medication, along with providing healthy living advice. The recent development of pharmacists employed in general practice has broadened possible career pathways. Preparing pharmacy graduates to develop smoothly into these roles requires pharmacy education to adapt and evolve. One possible innovation is the introduction of experiential learning modules in the curriculum, similar to that provided to other healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, physician associates, etc. Workplace-based learning would align the attainment of professional competencies during the undergraduate course to reflect the future roleThe paper examines the inclination of community sector pharmacists to provide experiential learning through a survey of stakeholders and pharmacists. It was found that pharmacists value workplace experiential learning opportunities and liked the concept of students arriving trained and validated in certain services prior to placement. Placement students would have the opportunity to contribute something back to their placement site. The survey underpins the need to examine current gaps of pharmacy education curriculum, why the change is required, and the models that could possibly be used to deliver that change