Evaluating the Need for Competency-Based Pharmacy Education (CBPE): The Report of the 2023-2024 Academic Affairs Standing Committee.

The 2023-2024 Academic Affairs Committee was charged to create a sense of urgency around the concept of Competency-Based Pharmacy Education and develop a "readiness for change" instrument that is based on the 5 essential elements that make up the definition of Competency-Based Pharmacy Education. This report describes the process undertaken by the committee to determine the societal needs of pharmacists and current state of pharmacy practice and pharmacy education. The practice gaps in pharmacy education and the key drivers needed to close these gaps are evaluated.

Evaluating the Strengths and Barriers of Competency-Based Education in the Health Professions.

Objective: This study aimed to define competency-based education (CBE) for pharmacy education and describe how strengths and barriers of CBE can support or hinder implementation.

Findings: Sixty-five studies were included from a variety of health professions in order to define competency based pharmacy education (CBPE) and identify barriers and benefits from the learner, faculty, institution, and society perspectives. From the 7 identified thematic categories, a CBPE definition was developed: "Competency-based pharmacy education is an outcomes-based curricular model of an organized framework of competencies (knowledge, skills, attitudes) for pharmacists to meet health care and societal needs.

The Need for Competency-Based Education.

Objectives: While pharmacy education updates learning as new information arises, changes to learning experiences can trail behind current practices and technology. There have been multiple calls for radical changes in how health professions education is delivered to ensure patients are receiving high-quality care. Competency-based education has been one way discussed in the literature for how to handle this need to develop students who have a willingness to learn and can problem-solve.

Competency-based pharmacy education definition: What components need to be defined to implement it?

Objectives: This study aimed to define the essential elements in the proposed competency-based pharmacy education (CBPE) definition, provide the key defining components of each essential element on the basis of educational theory and evidence, and define how the essential elements meet the identified needs for CBPE.

Methods: best-practice integrative review was conducted as part of the work of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy CBPE Task Force to define the essential elements in the CBPE definition and how these elements fit with the need for CBPE. The definition was compared with other published competency-based education definitions across K-12, higher education, medical education, and veterinary education.

Recommendations and Next Steps For Competency-Based Pharmacy Education.

In July 2021, the chairs of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Council of Deans, Council of Faculties, and Council of Sections developed a task force to discuss potential ways to improve pharmacy education. The Competency-Based Education (CBE) Joint Task Force was created to explore the pros and cons of advancing a competency-based approach to pharmacy education (CBPE) and to determine ways to create more flexibility within pharmacy curricula to enable CBE. To achieve these goals, the Task Force systematically reviewed available resources and outlined the pros and cons of CBPE, best practices for implementation, strategies to minimize barriers, and recommendations on whether CBE should be implemented in pharmacy education.

Fulfilling the Tripartite Mission During a Pandemic.

This commentary examines the challenges pharmacy faculty members have faced while working to fulfill their school's tripartite mission of teaching, research, and service during the coronavirus identified in 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It also outlines considerations that need to be made before moving forward regarding communication, collaboration, and culture. The pandemic has created opportunities for pharmacy educators to take instructional risks and attempt new didactic and experiential teaching methods and assessment strategies.

How Faculty Recognized for Teaching Excellence Interpret and Respond to Student Ratings of Teaching.

To determine how experienced pharmacy educators who have been recognized for teaching excellence interpret and respond to end-of-course student ratings of their teaching. An expert sampling technique was used to identify pharmacy faculty members who had been recognized by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) for teaching excellence as potential participants in the study. Sixteen of these faculty members were independently identified by two or more of the researchers as trusted candidates for the study, and 10 of these were randomly selected and invited to be interviewed via a web-conferencing platform.

ENabling Reduction of Low-grade Inflammation in SEniors Pilot Study: Concept, Rationale, and Design.

Objectives: To test two interventions to reduce interleukin (IL)-6 levels, an indicator of low-grade chronic inflammation and an independent risk factor for impaired mobility and slow walking speed in older adults.

Design: The ENabling Reduction of low-Grade Inflammation in SEniors (ENRGISE) Pilot Study was a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized pilot trial of two interventions to reduce IL-6 levels.

Setting: Five university-based research centers.

Development of a Summative Examination with Subject Matter Expert Validation.

Objective. To describe the development, implementation and impact of a summative examination on student learning and programmatic curricular outcomes. Methods.

Multiple Mini-Interview Performance Predicts Academic Difficulty in the PharmD Curriculum.

Objective. To identify admissions variable prognostics for academic difficulty in the PharmD curriculum to use for admissions determinations and early identification of at-risk students. Methods.

Desirable Skills in New Pharmacists.

Objective: To compare survey responses between licensed pharmacists who work with or employ new graduates and graduating senior pharmacy students at a college of pharmacy.

Design: This was a retrospective analysis of surveys given to 2 groups of pharmacists and students. Responses to items regarding importance of desirable qualities in new pharmacists and level of preparation of new graduates were analyzed.

A Faculty Toolkit for Formative Assessment in Pharmacy Education.

This paper aims to increase understanding and appreciation of formative assessment and its role in improving student outcomes and the instructional process, while educating faculty on formative techniques readily adaptable to various educational settings. Included are a definition of formative assessment and the distinction between formative and summative assessment. Various formative assessment strategies to evaluate student learning in classroom, laboratory, experiential, and interprofessional education settings are discussed.

Pharmacy students' ability to think about thinking.

Objective: To investigate students' metacognitive skills to distinguish what they know from what they do not know, to assess students' prediction of performance on a summative examination, and to compare student-identified incorrect questions with actual examination performance in order to improve exam quality.

Methods: Students completed a test-taking questionnaire identifying items perceived to be incorrect and rating their test-taking ability.

Results: Higher performing students evidenced better metacognitive skills by more accurately identifying incorrect items on the exam.

Factors associated with health-related quality of life of student pharmacists.

Objective: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of student pharmacists and explore factors related to HRQoL outcomes of student pharmacists in a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program at a public university.

Methods: A survey instrument was administered to all student pharmacists in a PharmD program at a public university to evaluate differences and factors related to the HRQoL outcomes of first-year (P1), second-year (P2), third-year (P3), and fourth-year (P4) student pharmacists in the college. The survey instrument included attitudes and academic-related self-perception, a 12-item short form health survey, and personal information components.

Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education 2013 educational outcomes.

An initiative of the Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (formerly the Center for the Advancement of Pharmaceutical Education) (CAPE), the CAPE Educational Outcomes are intended to be the target toward which the evolving pharmacy curriculum should be aimed. Their development was guided by an advisory panel composed of educators and practitioners nominated for participation by practitioner organizations. CAPE 2013 represents the fourth iteration of the Educational Outcomes, preceded by CAPE 1992, CAPE 1998 and CAPE 2004 respectively.

Academic help-seeking behavior among student pharmacists.

Objectives. To identify factors associated with academic help-seeking behavior among student pharmacists at a public university.Methods.

Lubiprostone for constipation in adults with cystic fibrosis: a pilot study.

Background: Constipation is prevalent in the cystic fibrosis (CF) population and yet there are few data demonstrating the effectiveness of currently used treatments. Lubiprostone is a laxative that works by activating the type 2 chloride channel in the gastrointestinal tract and thus has the potential to be especially effective for constipation associated with CF.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of lubiprostone for the treatment of constipation in adults with CF.

Human recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor reduces necrosis and enhances hepatocyte regeneration in a mouse model of acetaminophen toxicity.

We reported previously that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was increased in acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity in mice and treatment with a VEGF receptor inhibitor reduced hepatocyte regeneration. The effect of human recombinant VEGF (hrVEGF) on APAP toxicity in the mouse was examined. In early toxicity studies, B6C3F1 mice received hrVEGF (50 microg s.

Use of the chloride channel activator lubiprostone for constipation in adults with cystic fibrosis: a case series.

Objective: To describe the use of lubiprostone for constipation in 3 adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Case Summary: This case series describes the use of lubiprostone for the treatment of constipation in 3 adults with CF (mean +/- SD length of therapy 17.3 +/- 1.

Multiple rubric-based assessments of student case presentations.

Objectives: To evaluate a rubric-based method of assessing pharmacy students' case presentations in the recitation component of a therapeutics course.

Methods: A rubric was developed to assess knowledge, skills, and professional behavior. The rubric was used for instructor, student peer, and student self-assessment of case presentations.

Candesartan cilexetil effectively reduces blood pressure in hypertensive children.

Background: The angiotensin-receptor blocker candesartan cilexetil is a well-tolerated antihypertensive agent with demonstrated benefits in adults with hypertension. However, there are few data supporting its use in children with hypertension.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and tolerability of candesartan cilexetil in the treatment of pediatric hypertension.

Cesium-induced QT-interval prolongation in an adolescent.

Alternative medicine is becoming increasingly popular, especially with terminally ill patients. Most alternative remedies have not been adequately studied or proven effective for the diseases for which they are promoted. In the worst cases, these therapies are harmful.

Disposition of ceftazidime after intraperitoneal administration in adolescent patients receiving continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Peritonitis is the single most common complication in children maintained on continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) and a significant cause of morbidity. Recent consensus guidelines for the treatment of peritonitis in children receiving peritoneal dialysis recommend the combined intraperitoneal administration of ceftazidime with either a first-generation cephalosporin or vancomycin. The objective of this study is to determine whether a continuous maintenance dose of intraperitoneal ceftazidime in the absence of a loading dose would maintain adequate serum and dialysate concentrations to be effective in the treatment of peritonitis.

Intravenous voriconazole therapy in a preterm infant.

A preterm infant younger than 3 months developed a disseminated fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans infection that was treated with liposomal amphotericin B for 52 days, followed by the combination of intravenous voriconazole and liposomal amphotericin B for an additional 19 days. The infant received concomitant phenobarbital throughout the hospital stay. The infection resolved after addition of voriconazole to the treatment regimen.

Effects on the cost and utilization of proton pump inhibitors from adding over-the counter omeprazole to drug benefit coverage in a state employee health plan.

Objective: To evaluate the financial effects in a state employee health plan of a change in the drug coverage policy to include over-the-counter (OTC) omeprazole in a tier-copayment drug benefit design that favored the OTC drug.

Methods: The policy change in the Arkansas State Employee Benefit Division (EBD) involved 2 principal parts: OTC omeprazole placed in a new OTC copayment tier (5 dollars) and an increase in pharmacy reimbursement to a 13 dollars dispensing fee for each OTC omeprazole prescription. The prescription claims database was used to examine utilization and cost data for beneficiaries who received prescriptions for a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) during the 2-month period (January and February 2004) preceding the change in policy to cover OTC omeprazole compared with the 2-month period following the policy change (March and April 2004).