Teaching About Quality and Safety at Colleges/Schools of Pharmacy in the United States: Exemplars

Abstract

Specific Aims:. The purpose of this project is to: 1) catalog various methods quality improvement (QI) is being taught in colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States (US); 2) describe how some colleges/schools of pharmacy are teaching QI; and 3) showcase QI program exemplars. Methods: This descriptive, multi-phase study included an online questionnaire, syllabi review, and semi-structured phone interviews. The study was approved by the University of Arizona Institutional Review Board (IRB). One representative from each Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited or candidate college/school of pharmacy in the US was invited to participate. Participants indicated the type of QI education their college/school provided via online questionnaire. Following questionnaire completion, syllabi were requested and phone interviews were scheduled to obtain additional information. From the data, exemplars were chosen using a pre-determined, evidenced-based rubric. Results: One hundred thirty-six colleges/schools of pharmacy were contacted and 56 colleges/schools (41.2%) completed the survey. Of the responding colleges/schools reporting their QI/safety offerings, 41 (73.2%) reported a required session/module; 24 (42.9%) reported a required course; 21 (37.5%) reported an elective course; 21 (37.5%) reported a clerkship or experiential opportunity; 17 (30.4%) reported a required project; 17 (30.4%) reported interprofessional education integrated into their course; 15 (26.8%) reported an error lab; and 11 (19.6%) reported post-graduate training. Conclusions: Many of the responding US colleges/schools of pharmacy expose students to some aspect of QI/safety, most often via class session or module. The exemplar programs provide examples of how QI can be further integrated into pharmacy curricula.