Advancing Research and Scholarship: Report of the 2024-2025 AACP Research and Graduate Affairs Committee.

The 2024-2025 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Research and Graduate Affairs Committee (or the Committee) was charged with creating an updated definition of research and scholarship for use by the Academy, performing an audit of AACP activities to identify opportunities to advance or support research and scholarship as defined by the Committee, and developing metrics for these programs. The Committee met its first charge by providing updated definitions for both research and scholarship, recognizing that each is essential to the advancement of the pharmacy profession and equally important to the Academy. To fulfil its second charge, the Committee identified opportunities to add content and objectives related to research, scholarship, and graduate education to several AACP programs.

Longitudinal Assessment of Empathy and Burnout Across a Single Pharmacy Class Cohort.

Objective: This is a final analysis of longitudinal evaluation of burnout and empathy among a cohort of Doctor of Pharmacy students throughout their 4-year enrollment.

Methods: The class of 2021 received sequential Qualtrics (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) surveys containing 2 validated survey instruments, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Surveys were disseminated at the start of the program (PY1) and the end of each academic year (PY1, PY2, PY3, PY4).

Evolution of a capstone exam for third-year doctor of pharmacy students.

Background And Purpose: Pharmacy capstone exams are an example of an assessment strategy to evaluate student competency and practice-readiness. Capstone exam processes have been discussed in the literature; however, description of format, evolution of the process, and implementation in the year prior to rotations is lacking. This manuscript discusses the development, implementation, and utilization of a third professional year pharmacy capstone exam to assess advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) readiness.

The Relationship Between Pharmacist Resilience, Burnout, and Job Performance.

Resilience aids healthcare professionals in navigating through and bouncing back from stressful situations in the workplace. Resilience can increase job satisfaction, work motivation, and professional commitment while decreasing burnout, and ultimately job turnover. More resilient employees experience lower instances of burnout and greater life satisfaction.

Vancomycin Flight Simulator: A Team-Based Learning Exercise.

Background: Team-based learning (TBL) encourages learners to think critically to solve problems they will face in practice. Pharmacokinetic dosing and monitoring are complex skills requiring the application of learned knowledge. The study sought to assess the impact of a TBL, vancomycin dosing activity in a Pharmaceutical Skills IV course measured with exam question performance during the second professional year.

The Impact of Leadership Program Formatting on Perceived Development Within Pharmacy Cohorts.

To assess the impact of variable leadership development program formats on perceived participant growth. In 2020, the Phi Lambda Sigma national office began offering national Leader Academies to members, while University of South Florida Health Taneja College of Pharmacy simultaneously offered a Leader Academy program to its Phi Lambda Sigma students. Both programs used virtual leadership development tools from GiANT Worldwide, but differed in meeting frequency, content focus, and participant diversity.

Emergent transition to remote learning: Impact on student performance for real-time comprehensive case simulations.

Introduction: To determine the impact of emergent transition from in-person to remote learning on student performance within real-time objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs).

Methods: A university mandate, due to severe SARS-CoV-2, was issued requiring didactic courses to transition to remote learning in spring 2020. The third-year internal medicine elective had six remaining weekly OSCEs, accounting for 55% of course grades.

Evidence and Strategies for Including Emotional Intelligence in Pharmacy Education.

This integrative review summarizes the literature addressing emotional intelligence among health care professionals and students to better define and incorporate it into the pharmacy curricula. Emotional intelligence is an essential attribute for relationship building, stress management, and self-regulation. Pharmacy students must develop and improve their emotional intelligence to support their development of successful relationships with patients, pharmacy colleagues, and other health care providers.

The relationship between pharmacist emotional intelligence, occupational stress, job performance, and psychological affective well-being.

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is known to improve teamwork, communication, and organizational commitment. The role of EI has also influenced pharmacists' ability to empathize, control emotions, and actively listen. Although EI's impact on work-related components, including occupational stress, job performance, and psychological affective well-being, has been studied, there are no data specific to the practice of pharmacy.

Designing and evaluating game-based learning for continuing pharmacy education using an "escape room" activity.

Introduction: Continuing education (CE) standards by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education emphasize that educational methodologies should contribute to the development of participants' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Employment of serious gaming can meet this expectation through motivation, timely feedback, and challenging all performance levels. Current literature is lacking regarding use of game-based learning, such as "escape rooms" in pharmacy CE programming.

Measures of Burnout and Empathy in United States Doctor of Pharmacy Students: Time for a Change?

Purpose: To review interim data regarding longitudinal burnout and empathy levels in a single Doctor of Pharmacy class cohort.

Methods: Students were emailed an electronic survey during their first semester and annually at the end of each academic year for a total of 3 years (2017-2020). Validated survey tools included the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) student version.

Effectiveness of a pharmacy teaching certificate program offered to practicing pharmacists.

Introduction: Regardless of the practice setting, pharmacists' roles often expand beyond patient-centered services and into health-related educational roles for patients, healthcare providers, and student pharmacists. Teaching roles of a clinical pharmacist can include providing invited presentations (such as continuing education lectures), teaching colleagues about new clinical initiatives, precepting students during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) and introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs), and precepting residents on rotations. This program was designed to evaluate the effect of a university-affiliated pharmacy teaching certificate program on participant knowledge and perceived confidence in specific areas of academic pharmacy and preceptor development.

Peer-assisted Learning: Clinical Skills Training for Pharmacy Students.

To assess the impact of peer-teaching on student scores and confidence when preparing for a final objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) within a Doctor of Pharmacy program. First-year pharmacy students (n=45) attended a peer-led training session led by upperclassmen (n=17) on a variety of clinical skills to be assessed on a final course OSCE. Their scores were collected and compared to students who did not attend the training.

Development of a Student-Led Ambulatory Medication Reconciliation Program at an Academic Institution.

Objectives: To integrate fourth-year student pharmacists on advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) rotations within several different ambulatory clinics to perform medication reconciliations and enhance interdisciplinary practice.

Methods: The study design was a descriptive, prospective multisite study among a variety of ambulatory care outpatient clinics. Student pharmacists were partnered with physicians to conduct medication reconciliations during clinic visits for 4 hours per week, with data collection from January 2016 to September 2016.