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

Pharmacy student participation in interprofessional medical relief tripsas members of a joint student organization

BACKGROUND

METHODS

RESULTS

INTERPROFESSIONAL TRIPS

OBJECTIVES

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

Report professional activities during these trips Report pharmacy student perspectives of participating in

interprofessional medical relief trips

Clinic Day Patients Seen Medications Dispensed1 139 4452 215 7213 289 1027

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

What skills did you learn while you were there?

Patient communication skills (5)

Interprofessional communication/interactions (3)

Suggesting therapeutic/dosing recommendations (3)

Logistics of running a pharmacy (3)

Clinical skills (2)

What skills/services did you provide away from pharmacy with the medical students?

Triage (6)

Patient workups/interviews (2)

Physical exams (2)

What barriers did you encounter on this trip (please provide any recommendations to overcome identified barriers)?

Language barrier (4)

Need for effective teamwork (3)

What did you learn from the physicians on this trip?

Willing to work and consult with pharmacy (2)

What did you learn from the medical students on this trip?

Value of an interprofessional team (4)

Communication skills (2)

Clinical skills (2)

Patient interaction (2)

Pharmacy seen as a benefit (2)

What did you learn from the patients on this trip?

Appreciate our services (4)

Common local conditions (3)

Need for medical attention (3)

Low health literacy (2)

How did the mission trip enhance your pharmacy education?

Interprofessional interaction (3)

Enhanced medication knowledge (3)

Interacting with patients who speak a different language (2)

Confidence in clinical ability (2)

Therapeutic recommendations (2) 

How do you propose we enhance this experience for pharmacy students next year?

Pre-trip medication overview (5)

GI medication

Antibiotic

Analgesic/antipyretic

Vitamin/supplement

Antihelmintic

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Number of presciptions

Clinic Day Patients Seen Medications Dispensed1 97 1662 101 1943 93 159

Antifungal

GI medication

Antibiotic

Vitamin/supplement

Analgesic/antipyretic

0 40 80 120 160 200

Number of prescriptions

Table 1: Demographics

CONCLUSION

Table 2: Haiti Clinic

Figure 1: Haiti’s Top 5 Dispensed Medications

Table 3: Nicaragua Clinic

Figure 2: Nicaragua’s Top 5 Dispensed Medications

Table 3: Open Ended QuestionsFigure 3: Pharmacy Pre-trip Services

Figure 4: Pharmacy Services in Country

Figure 5: Interprofessional Care

Figure 6: Confidence

Figure 7: Overall Satisfaction

Characteristics Total populationNumber of pharmacy students 8Age (years), mean SD 24.3 3.7Students per trip, n (%)  

Haiti 5Nicaragua 3

Year of professional education, n (%)  P1 0 (0)P2 4 (50)P3 4 (50)P4 0 (0)

Participated in past medical relief trip, n (%) 2 (25)

Experience practicing with medical students prior to trip, n (%) 2 (25)

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

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.

MISSION

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.

Do you see yourself working as a member of an interprofessional team in the future?

Do you believe interprofessional care is needed to maximize patient care?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

The pharmacy team contributed positively to the medica-tion packing procedures?

The medication sorting and packing by the pharmacy team was organized and effective?

The pharmacy team helped with medication acquisition?

The pharmacy team helped with fundraising?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

The education provided to patients by the pharmacy t...

The organization of the medications by the pharmacy ...

Medications were well organized on clinic days during ...

As a member of the pharmacy team, do you feel your i...

Pharmacy services were beneficial on this trip?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

How confident were you in the dosing recommendations you provided?

How confident were you in making therapeutic substitution recommendations?

How confident were you in making therapeutic recommendations?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Extremely Confident Quite Confident Moderately Confident Slightly ConfidentNot at all Confident

How satisfied are you with the performance of the pharmacy team during clinic?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Extremely Satisfied Quite Satisfied Moderately Sastisfied Slightly SatisfiedNot at all Satisfied

The pharmacy team contributed positively to the medication packing procedures?

The medication sorting and packing by the pharmacy team was organized and effective?

The pharmacy team helped with medication acquisition?

The pharmacy team helped with fundraising?

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

The education provided to patients by the pharmacy team was beneficial?

The organization of the medications by the pharmacy team enhanced the workflow process on the trip?

Medications were well organized on clinic days during this trip?

As a member of the pharmacy team, do you feel your involvement was helpful during the mission trip?

Pharmacy services were beneficial on this trip: strongly agree?

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Do you see yourself working as a member of an interprofessional team in the future?

Do you believe interprofessional care is needed to maximize patient care?

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

How confident were you in the dosing recommendations you provided?

How confident were you in making therapeutic substitution recommendations?

How confident were you in making therapeutic recommendations?

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Extremely Confident Quite Confident Moderately Confident Slightly ConfidentNot at all Confident

How satisfied are you with the performance of the pharmacy team during clinic?

0 2 4 6 8

Extremely Satisfied Quite Satisfied Moderately Sastisfied Slightly SatisfiedNot at all Satisfied