Pharmacy student actual and perceived knowledge of issues related to underserved populations across the pharmacy curriculum

Objectives: Pharmacists are in an important position to eliminate health disparities. Recent accreditation standards and guidelines for pharmacy education reflect the significance of introducing students to working with and effectively caring for underserved patients. The purpose of this study is to help faculty at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy identify gaps in student knowledge of medically underserved populations and determine what factors may influence this knowledge.

Methods: All current pharmacy students enrolled in the professional program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy were eligible to participate.  Subjects were evaluated using the Underserved Knowledge Assessment completed through Qualtrics ®, an Internet survey management website. The survey includes 10 demographic questions, 13 self-assessment questions, and 20 knowledge assessment questions.

Results: A total of 158 first, second, and third year professional students have completed the survey with a 50% response rate in each year; fourth year students will complete the survey by March 2012. Results will be reported using standardized descriptive statistics. Actual and perceived knowledge scores on multiple choice questions will be calculated and compared across the years. Additionally factors that may influence this knowledge (i.e. family income, area where they grew up, etc.) and specific content areas where students need improvement will be identified. As this is a work in progress, results will be available by March 2012 and the data analysis complete by April 2012.

Conclusion: Results will help faculty at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy create opportunities to address gaps in student knowledge of underserved populations through the didactic and experiential learning curriculum. They will also provide insight to guide changes and develop strategies to better address and teach issues related to underserved populations.