Pharmacy residency training measured through a standardized knowledge test

• Published in: American journal of health-system pharmacy Vol. 73; no. 24; pp. 2095 - 2098
• Main Authors: Thompson, Amy N, McKinzie, Brian P, Haney, Jason S, Nappi, Jean M, Pilch, Nicole
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Copyright American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. All rights reserved 15-12-2016; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Clinical Competence - standards; Educational Measurement - methods; Educational Measurement - standards; Female; Humans; Male; Methods; Pharmaceutical education; Pharmacy Residencies - methods; Pharmacy Residencies - standards; Prospective Studies; Residents (Medicine); Retrospective Studies; Standardized tests; Training; pharmacy; education; pharmacy residencies; professional
• ISSN: 1079-2082; 1535-2900
• DOI: 10.2146/ajhp150987

PURPOSEThe use of a standardized knowledge test to assess postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residency training was evaluated.
METHODSThis was a retrospective review of a prospectively administered exam. A bank of questions was developed by preceptors from each of the core rotation disciplinesgeneral medicine (including ambulatory care and oncology), pediatrics, critical care (including transplantation), drug information, operations, practice management, and psychiatry. Board-certified pharmacy specialists at our institution were asked to submit 5–10 questions with answers that would likely be encountered by residents during rotation in their specific specialty area. The exam was administered at the beginning and the end of the residentʼs PGY1 year.
RESULTSA total of 49 PGY1 residents completed the examination during the first and last months of their residency training. Residentsʼ overall scores improved 5–10% annually from baseline to completion of their residency. The mean overall exam score significantly improved from baseline after completion of a PGY1 residency at our institution for all four class years. All four residency classes demonstrated an increase from baseline scores in most core disciplines with the exception of practice management, which decreased every year of the examination.
CONCLUSIONScores on a standardized exam developed to assess the baseline knowledge of incoming PGY1 residents and the effect of one year of residency training improved in the majority of practice areas at the end of the year compared to scores at the beginning of the year.