Comparison of Aseptic Compounding Errors Before and After Modified Laboratory and Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences.

Objective: To determine whether aseptic compounding errors were reduced at the end of the third professional year after modifying pharmacy practice laboratories and implementing an institutional introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE).

Design: An aseptic compounding laboratory, previously occurring during the third-year spring semester, was added to the second-year spring semester. An 80-hour institutional IPPE was also added in the summer between the second and third years. Instructors recorded aseptic compounding errors using a grading checklist for second-year and third-year student assessments. Third-year student aseptic compounding errors were assessed prior to the curricular changes and for 2 subsequent years for students on the Oklahoma City and Tulsa campuses of the University of Oklahoma.

Assessment: Both third-year cohorts committed fewer aseptic technique errors than they did during their second years, and the probability was significantly lower for students on the Oklahoma City campus. The probability of committing major aseptic technique errors was significantly lower for 2 consecutive third-year cohorts after the curricular changes.

Conclusion: The addition of second-year aseptic compounding laboratory experiences and third-year institutional IPPE content reduced instructor-assessed errors at the end of the third year.