Reinforcement and Application of the Pharmacists’Patient Care Process Using Educational Simulation - Study Abstract

Oct 15, 2026

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Objective: Determine the value of a simulated electronic health record (EHR) as a learning tool to reinforce and apply principles of the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (PPCP) among Doctor of Pharmacy students in the first professional year (P1). Methods: Online survey assessed student perceptions of the simulated EHR and confidence in identifying health- and medication-related problems after completing a Transitions of Care module. Results: 153/230 students (67%) responded; 90%+ supported continued use and 80%+ reported increased confidence. Recommendations highlight limited evidence and support early curricular exposure.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

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Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Reinforcement and Application of the Pharmacists’Patient Care Process Using Educational Simulation Authors: Olga Hilas, PharmD, MPH , BCPS, BCGP, FASCP Professor St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Queens, New York Telephone: 718-990-1887 Email: [hilaso@stjohns.edu](hilaso@stjohns.edu) Tina Caliendo, PharmD , BCGP, BCACP Assistant Professor St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Queens, New York Telephone: 718-990-1889 Email: [caliendt@stjohns.edu](caliendt@stjohns.edu) ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the value of a simulated electronic health record (EHR) as learning tool to reinforce and apply principles of the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (PPCP) among Doctor of Pharmacy students in their first professional (P1) year of study. Methods: An online survey was developed to assess students’ perceptions of a simulated EHR as a PPCP learning tool, and to determine student confidence levels in identifying health- and medication-related problems after completing a Transitions of Care educational module. Results: A total of 153 of 230 students (67%) voluntarily and anonymously completed the electronic survey distributed among P1 students. More than 90% of students strongly agreed or agreed that a simulated EHR is an important, realistic and valuable learning tool for P1 pharmacy students to perform and document pharmacist activities, communicate with other healthcare professionals, and recommended the continued use of a simulated EHR for applying principles of the PPCP during the P1 year. Over 80% of students also reported increased confidence in identifying health-related problems and medication-related problems. Recommendations: Evidence supporting the use of technology in early coursework as a learning tool for the reinforcement and application of the principles of PPCP is lacking. The results of this study support early curricular exposure to a simulated EHR as a valuable learning tool for the PPCP is demonstrated in this study. This supports the development of additional educational activities during the P1 year as a foundation to deliberate PPCP practice in subsequent coursework and experiences. Keywords: Electronic Health Record, Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process, Simulation Education INTRODUCTION In 2015 , the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) published the Accreditation Standards and Key Elements for the Professional Program in Pharmacy Leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree, emphasizing the need for “active learning pedagogy, content integration, knowledge acquisition, skill development, and the application of knowledge and skills to therapeutic decision-making” (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 2015) . In addition, the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (PPCP) was identified as a key curricular component to prepare students for the provision of patient-centered and collaborative care. This educational approach has also been endorsed by the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners and recognized within the 2013 Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) Educational Outcomes (Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners, 2014; Medina, Plaza & Stowe, 2013) . As a result, educational activities aimed to assess students’ ability to apply the principles of PPCP have been incorporated into curricula across the country. These efforts have primarily focused on advanced coursework in the later years of the Doctor of Pharmacy programs and have not included comprehensive assessments of student perceptions and confidence levels after completing PPCP activities (Lee, Cooley, Tanner, Hanauer, Schiefer & Herrier, 2014; Cooley & Lee, 2018; Alsharif & Faulkner, 2019; Bowar & McCarthy, 2019) . Therefore, studies are needed to determine the potential for increased development of student skills and confidence with the PPCP using innovative pedagogical approaches introduced earlier within the curricula

FAQs

What is the study’s primary objective?

To evaluate whether a simulated electronic health record (EHR) helps Doctor of Pharmacy students reinforce and apply Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (PPCP) principles during the P1 year.

How was student feedback collected and what learning activities were involved?

An online survey measured students’ perceptions of a simulated EHR and their confidence in identifying health- and medication-related problems after completing a Transitions of Care educational module.

What were the main findings about student perceptions and confidence?

Most students (over 90%) agreed the simulated EHR was important, realistic, and valuable for performing and documenting pharmacist activities, and over 80% reported increased confidence in identifying health-related and medication-related problems.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Liam