Changes in Working Memory Performance Over an Academic Semester in Student Pharmacists

Assessment of a Mindfulness Meditation Elective in an Accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy Program

Objective. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a live 14-week mindfulness elective course on the well-being of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students in an accelerated program.Methods. Pharmacy students enrolled in a mindfulness elective participated in weekly class sessions that included an eight-week mindfulness program geared toward emerging adults. Eight weekly reflections were assigned to students and evaluated using the Text iQ text-analysis tool in Qualtrics. Investigators analyzed the sentiment scores assigned by Text iQ to detect differences in the tone of student reflections over time.Results. Twenty-four students were enrolled in this elective, and 22 students submitted complete reflections for evaluation. Mean sentiment scores and the percentage of responses in sentiment score categories (very positive and positive, mixed and neutral, very negative and negative) for these reflections showed significant differences between weeks.Conclusion. The tone of student reflections was more positive after the students learned and incorporated mindfulness practice into their accelerated PharmD curriculum.

Exploring the relationship between stress and student leadership among student pharmacists

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies show student pharmacists have a lower health-related quality of life than undergraduate students and are among the most stressed of the health profession students. The long-term effects of chronic stress on healthcare providers can lead to reduced productivity, increased turnover, and medical errors. The goal of this research was to gather information from students who participate in organizational leadership positions regarding their opinions of the benefits of the leadership positions and feelings about stress, burnout, and quality of life.

METHODS

Student pharmacists holding leadership positions were asked to complete an electronic survey. Survey questions were based on behavioral assessment instruments. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic data and yes/no question responses. The Spearman Rho test was used to look for associations when comparing variables.

RESULTS

Sixty-four students completed the survey. There was a significant association between both self-reported lower quality of sleep and reduced time dedicated to leisure activities with holding concurrent positions (p = 0.021, p = 0.028, respectively). No significant relationship was found between the number of leadership positions held concurrently, satisfaction gained from those positions, professional year in pharmacy school, employment during didactic years, or self-perceived test taking performance. Student pharmacists reported taking on leadership positions in student organizations for a variety of reasons, including desire to improve skills, make connections, improve the profession, and gain experience.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacy faculty mentors may be able to utilize the results of this study to encourage student leaders and better understand the challenges that come with organization leadership positions.

Strategies first year doctor of pharmacy students use to promote well-being

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study is to assess strategies that first-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students utilize to manage stress and promote well-being throughout the program.

METHODS

Participants included students at a university in an urban Midwestern region. Students were enrolled in the second semester of their first year of a four-year PharmD program. Students were participating in a social and administrative sciences course in which they were required to write a two-page reflection before a small group discussion and lecture on their overall well-being while in pharmacy school. Open and axial coding was conducted on these reflections using a standard content analysis approach of qualitative thematic analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 49 pharmacy students reported multiple strategies to help cope with stressors of a PharmD program and improve their well-being. Four themes emerged, including: (1) availability and accessibility of institutional resources, (2) personal time management and organizational strategies, (3) personal mental and physical health strategies, and (4) activities that maintain social relationships.

CONCLUSIONS

First-year pharmacy (P1) students are actively thinking about and participating in activities to promote personal well-being, manage extreme stress, and proactively prevent the detrimental effects of burnout. P1 students were aware of the need to incorporate specific strategies into their daily routine to aid in their overall well-being and experience during pharmacy school. Colleges and schools of pharmacy can use the findings of this study to understand strategies students currently use to identify approaches for supporting student needs and any gaps in wellness resources.