Impact of an elective course on pharmacy students' attitudes, beliefs, and competency regarding Medicare Part D.

Objective: To determine the impact of an elective course on pharmacy students' perceptions, knowledge, and confidence regarding Medicare Part D, medication therapy management (MTM), and immunizations.

Design: Thirty-three pharmacy students were enrolled in a Medicare Part D elective course that included both classroom instruction and experiential training.

Assessment: Students' self-reported confidence in and knowledge of Part D significantly improved upon course completion. End-of-course student perceptions about the relative importance of various aspects of MTM interventions and their confidence in performing MTM services significantly improved from those at the beginning of the course. Students' confidence in performing immunizations also increased significantly from the start of the course.

Conclusion: A classroom course covering Medicare Part D with an experiential requirement serving beneficiaries can improve students' attitudes and knowledge about Medicare Part D and their confidence in providing related services to beneficiaries in the community.