Enhancing learner abilities to address health disparities during ambulatory care Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE)

Background: Pharmacists are often the most accessible health care provider, particularly in medically underserved areas, and experience addressing health disparities is important. While the importance of integrating health disparities throughout the pharmacy curriculum is clear from Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE) standards, there is a paucity of data within experiential settings. This study describes how focused, health disparities learning activities were incorporated into a 40-h clinical introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) and describes learner outcomes from these learning activities. Educational activity: This is a retrospective review of survey data completed by 52 second year pharmacy students on clinical IPPE rotations with four ambulatory care faculty members in rural and urban clinics. This was conducted at a single college of pharmacy over 5 years. Evaluation findings: The number of resources learners could list for patients with health disparities increased on post-surveys. For case-related questions, learners recognized and could appreciate the challenges in managing a patient who had financial and social limitations. Learner confidence increased in their ability to access necessary medications and disease state management after the learning experience. Overall, learners had firm beliefs regarding the importance of health disparities on patients which were generally unchanged throughout the experience. Analysis of educational activity: Intentional readings and cases with discussion related to addressing health disparities in underserved populations while providing direct patient care on a 40-h clinical IPPE ambulatory care rotation, improved knowledge of resources to access for patients experiencing health disparities. These learning activities also improved the confidence of learners in providing care to patients experiencing health disparities.