Factors associated with reflection among students after an advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) in Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To identify individual and social factors associated with pharmacy students' level of reflection in an advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE).

METHODS: A postal questionnaire, including a reflective assignment, was sent to all pharmacy interns (n=262) at Uppsala University, Sweden, for 4 semesters in 2005-2007.

RESULTS: In a univariate analysis, 7 factors were found to be associated with students' level of reflection. After controlling for covariates, 3 social factors were found to be independently associated with reflection: having a formal preceptor (OR=5.3), being at a small pharmacy (OR=19.8), and students' perception of the importance of discussing critical thinking with the preceptor (OR=1.2). No correlation could be observed between level of reflection and critical thinking, nor learning style.

CONCLUSION: Social components seem to be of higher importance than individual components in students' reflective levels after pharmacy internship experience. Trained preceptors are important to foster reflection skills.