Student perceptions and outcomes from asynchronous versus synchronous remote learning in a pharmacy skills course

Objective: Compare the effectiveness and characterize student experiences between asynchronous and synchronous remote pharmacy skills learning sessions in first-year (P1) and second-year (P2) pharmacy students. Methods: Mixed-methods study consisting of qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews and quantitative analysis of Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) performance and postcourse questionnaires. An inductive thematic analysis of the interviews was conducted. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted to compare student-rated efficacy of aspects of the asynchronous and synchronous sessions. Chi-squared tests were conducted to compare pass rates between the 2020 Zoom (remote) OSCEs, which were assessments based on the asynchronous and synchronous remote sessions. We also compared pass rates of analogous 2019 in-person and 2020 Zoom (remote) OSCEs, which assessed the same skills across both years. Results: Students described advantages and disadvantages for asynchronous and synchronous sessions along the themes of learning, feedback and preparation. For asynchronous sessions, students described value from one-on-one peer interactions and feedback and being more prepared for the session and practice. For the synchronous sessions, students emphasized the value of real-time feedback from faculty and facilitators. Overall, there was not a strong preference for one format. There was no difference in 2020 OSCE pass rates between the asynchronously and synchronously taught skills. P1 students in 2020 performed better on the OSCE conducted over Zoom for the asynchronous sessions, compared to 2019 in-person OSCEs. Conclusion: An asynchronous remote format can be effective for teaching patient care skills that are lower on Bloom's taxonomy. Transitioning a synchronous session to asynchronous should be done thoughtfully. Aspects that make an asynchronous session effective include one-on-one peer interactions and learning, specific, individualized feedback from peers and faculty, and detailed and comprehensive learning materials.