Work

Advancing Pharmacy Students’ Communication Skills through Real-Time Feedback in Innovative Simulations

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Effective communication skills are essential for student pharmacists, particularly in telehealth contexts where clear and professional interactions are critical. This study compared 3 simulation-based teaching methods aimed at improving pharmacy students' telephone communication skills, focusing on the impact of real-time feedback vs postsimulation reflection. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 114 student pharmacists from 5 Taiwanese universities, assigned to 3 groups: (1) Standard Simulation Teaching Method (STM, n = 58), (2) Modified STM (MSTM, n = 21), and (3) MSTM with Real-time Feedback (MSTM+RTF, n = 35). All students participated in standardized clinical scenarios designed to simulate common pharmacy-related inquiries. Performance was assessed using a validated 15-item questionnaire on a 5-point Likert scale. Quantitative data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe post hoc tests, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically to explore students' experiences. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the methods in 4 key communication metrics: call time recording, identification and confirmation of caller details, providing reply times, and asking additional questions. Students in the MSTM+RTF group consistently outperformed those in the STM and MSTM groups. Qualitative analysis revealed themes of initial anxiety, skill development through practice and feedback, and improvements in communication and professionalism. CONCLUSION: The MSTM+RTF demonstrated superior outcomes in developing student pharmacists' telephone communication skills by combining immediate feedback with iterative practice. Embedding real-time feedback, repetition, and structured reflection into simulations holds promise for building essential communication competencies. Future research should investigate optimal simulation design components and evaluate long-term skill retention and transfer to clinical practice settings.

Source: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpe.2025.101414

Authors: Cheng-Yi Chao, Tsung-Kun Lin, Nai-Yung Hung, Chun-Lun Hsu, Li-Ting Kao

Institutions: Tri-Service General Hospital, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Defense Medical Center, National Taiwan University

Language: English

Topic: Simulation-Based Education in Healthcare

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,400