Assessment of Pharmacy Students’ Interest in a Pharmacy Technology and Automation Certificate Program
Faculty Mentor
Sara Grossman and Janna Roitman
Major/Area of Research
Informatics, Technology, Automation
Description
Introduction
Pharmacy automation has become an integral part of pharmacy practice, leveraging advanced technologies to improve the accuracy of medication dispensing and patient safety outcomes. Equipping pharmacy students with knowledge and skills related to pharmacy automation will better prepare them for optimizing workflows as future pharmacists. This study aimed to evaluate PharmD students' interest in a voluntary pharmacy technology and automation certificate program.
Methods
In September 2023, an anonymous survey was distributed to third-year pharmacy students at LIU Pharmacy. The survey comprised of a maximum of 28 questions and was administered through CampusLabs: Baseline. The questionnaire collected students’ demographics and assessed their prior experience using pharmacy automation technology. Additional questions concerned students’ level of interest in completing a pharmacy technology and automation certificate program and in specific pharmacy automation topics.
Results
Of 172 third-year students, 155 (90%) responded to the survey. Fifty-one students (33%) possessed a prior academic degree and 16 (10%) were enrolled in a shared-credit program. Seventy-seven (50%) students planned to pursue additional training or education after completing the PharmD program. Of 153 respondents, 107 (70%) reported previous experience with pharmacy automation technology and rated their level of experience as beginner (20%), intermediate (51%), advanced (22%), or expert (7%). Exposure to pharmacy automation technology primarily occurred through introductory pharmacy practice experiences (66%) and/or through working in a pharmacy setting (52%). Of 153 respondents, 146 (95%) expressed interest in completing the program. Motivations for participation included enhancing effectiveness and versatility as future practitioners (64%) and increasing the likelihood of securing pharmacist positions post-graduation (61%).
Conclusion
Almost all PharmD students surveyed expressed interest in completing a certificate pro- gram in pharmacy technology and automation. These findings reflect students’ recognition of the expanding role of automated technology in pharmacy practice. Study insights will guide the program's development to better serve pharmacy students.
Assessment of Pharmacy Students’ Interest in a Pharmacy Technology and Automation Certificate Program
Introduction
Pharmacy automation has become an integral part of pharmacy practice, leveraging advanced technologies to improve the accuracy of medication dispensing and patient safety outcomes. Equipping pharmacy students with knowledge and skills related to pharmacy automation will better prepare them for optimizing workflows as future pharmacists. This study aimed to evaluate PharmD students' interest in a voluntary pharmacy technology and automation certificate program.
Methods
In September 2023, an anonymous survey was distributed to third-year pharmacy students at LIU Pharmacy. The survey comprised of a maximum of 28 questions and was administered through CampusLabs: Baseline. The questionnaire collected students’ demographics and assessed their prior experience using pharmacy automation technology. Additional questions concerned students’ level of interest in completing a pharmacy technology and automation certificate program and in specific pharmacy automation topics.
Results
Of 172 third-year students, 155 (90%) responded to the survey. Fifty-one students (33%) possessed a prior academic degree and 16 (10%) were enrolled in a shared-credit program. Seventy-seven (50%) students planned to pursue additional training or education after completing the PharmD program. Of 153 respondents, 107 (70%) reported previous experience with pharmacy automation technology and rated their level of experience as beginner (20%), intermediate (51%), advanced (22%), or expert (7%). Exposure to pharmacy automation technology primarily occurred through introductory pharmacy practice experiences (66%) and/or through working in a pharmacy setting (52%). Of 153 respondents, 146 (95%) expressed interest in completing the program. Motivations for participation included enhancing effectiveness and versatility as future practitioners (64%) and increasing the likelihood of securing pharmacist positions post-graduation (61%).
Conclusion
Almost all PharmD students surveyed expressed interest in completing a certificate pro- gram in pharmacy technology and automation. These findings reflect students’ recognition of the expanding role of automated technology in pharmacy practice. Study insights will guide the program's development to better serve pharmacy students.