Student pharmacist experiences as inpatient psychiatry medication education group leaders during an early immersion program.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: While research suggests that pharmacists generally hold positive attitudes toward consumers of psychiatric medications, they often feel less comfortable talking about these medications and providing services for patients with mental illness. The purpose of this program was to train second and third year student pharmacists as psychiatry medication education groups leaders and to examine resulting student self-efficacy and mental health stigma.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: In partnership with the University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy, the inpatient psychiatry service at UNC Medical Center expanded weekly medication education groups with the help of trained student pharmacists. All second- and third-year student pharmacists were invited to participate. Pre/post surveys and reflection statements were collected from 13 students that received training, provided informed consent, and participated in one or more medication education groups. Data were analyzed with a mixed methods approach.

FINDINGS: Student responses revealed an increase in student self-efficacy (p < 0.05), improved understanding of mental illness, and new strategies for engaging in direct patient care.

DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY: Results from this study suggest that students gained an appreciation for pharmacists and the workplace while developing self-efficacy and strategies for engaging with patients with mental illness as a part of medication education groups.