Pharmacy student participation in interprofessional medical relief trips

1. Pharmacy student participation in interprofessional medical relief trips • as members of a joint student organization Jordan Masse, Pharm.D. Candidate IV1, Sabrina Grandi , Pharm.D. Candidate IV1, Chih Chuang, MD2, Helen Berlie, Pharm.D., CDE1 Wayne State University, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Detroit MI1, and School of Medicine, Detroit, MI2 BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES RESULTS • The World Health Student Organization is an established student organization at Wayne State University School of Medicine since 2001 • In 2012, a sister organization was created at the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences • Report professional activities during these trips • Report pharmacy student perspectives of participating in interprofessional medical relief trips Table 1: Demographics Figure 3: Pharmacy Pre-trip Services Table 3: Open Ended Questions METHODS MISSION • The number of patients seen and medications dispensed were recorded daily • Pharmacy student perspectives were assessed using an anonymous and voluntary survey • 40-question survey (6 demographic, 20 Likert-type scale, and 14 open-ended questions) • The surveys were available post-trip • Areas assessed: • Pharmacy pre-trip services • Pharmacy services in country • Interprofessional care • Confidence • Overall satisfaction • Data analysis • Descriptive statistics to summarize Likert-based survey questions. • Mixed methods analysis of open-ended question • 1 investigator created focused codes for each student response • Data summarized for all student • Focused codes with greater than 2 responses were reported WHSO-EACPHS is comprised of pharmacy students whose mission is to gain diverse medical and cultural experiences outside their immediate communities. It is the organization’s goal to provide free medical care and medications to under-served populations around the world through medical relief trips. It also promotes interprofessional advancement by working in collaboration with other healthcare professional students, specifically medical students. In addition to global efforts, the organization encompasses actively volunteering at community outreach projects that serve the citizens of Detroit. Figure 4: Pharmacy Services in Country Table 2: Haiti Clinic Figure 1: Haiti’s Top 5 Dispensed Medications INTERPROFESSIONAL TRIPS Figure 5: Interprofessional Care • During the first year as a joint organization, there were 2 separate week-long interprofessional medical relief trips: • Haiti (12/15/12-12/23/12) • 17 medical students, 5 pharmacy students, 1 undergraduate student • 2 physicians • Nicaragua (12/17/12-12/23/12) • 20 medical students, 4 pharmacy students • 2 physicians, 1 pharmacist • Activities • Pre-Trip: • Fundraising • Advertising • Obtaining medications and medical supplies • Packing medications and supplies • In-Country: • Clinic set-up • Triage and patient interviews • Prescription filling and medication dispensing • Therapeutic recommendations • Patient Education Figure 6: Confidence Table 3: Nicaragua Clinic CONCLUSION Figure 2: Nicaragua’s Top 5 Dispensed Medications Figure 7: Overall Satisfaction Pharmacy students were exposed to professional activities that resulted in valuable learning experiences. All students reported being satisfied with the performance of the pharmacy team and they all agreed that interprofessional care is an essential component of patient care. This joint organization creates a unique opportunity for interprofessional learning activities between pharmacy and medical students.