Work

Impact of Competency-Based Skills Assessments on Student Performance, Stress, and Preparedness in an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) Readiness Course

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of competency-based sessions within a Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum by comparing student performance and perception of stress and preparedness during an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). METHODS: In the spring of 2023, an educational intervention was implemented for third professional year students at the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. Students had the opportunity to demonstrate competency through 4 skills-based preliminary sessions prior to a final OSCE within an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience readiness course. The difference in the average number of stations with satisfactory performance on the final OSCE was compared between cohorts before and after the intervention. For the postintervention cohort, student perceptions of stress and preparedness were assessed through course survey data. RESULTS: The study analyzed the results of 127 students in the preintervention cohort and 118 students in the postintervention cohort. Following the educational intervention, there was a nonstatistically significant decrease in the average number of final OSCE stations with satisfactory performance (mean [SD] 3.31 [0.78] vs 3.12 [0.94]). Three of the 4 stations showed similar or improved performance between cohorts, while 1 showed a decrease in performance. Most respondents reported an increase in perceived preparedness (n = 77, 93.9%) and a decrease in stress (n = 66, 80.5%). CONCLUSION: Despite a nonsignificant decrease in the average number of final OSCE stations with satisfactory performance, students in the postintervention cohort performed similarly on 3 of the 4 stations and felt less stressed and more prepared.

Source: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpe.2025.101401

Authors: Sarah Leupold, Kristy Jackson, Junan Li, David E. Matthews

Institution: The Ohio State University

Language: English

Topic: Innovations in Medical Education

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,400