American College of Clinical Pharmacy
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Mon-21 - Integrating Learners into Research and Quality Improvement Projects

Scientific Poster Session III - PRN Contributed Posters

PRN Contributed Posters
  Monday, November 13, 2023
  01:00 PM–02:30 PM

Abstract

Research plays a vital role in advancing pharmacy practice and improving patient care, making it an essential skill for learners to develop under guided mentorship during their training. Integrating learners into research and quality improvement (QI) projects not only fosters their critical thinking, time management, and evidence-based practice skills, but also benefits mentors, and institutions. However, barriers such as institutional and mentor priorities, learner skill gaps, and the absence of structured research requirements in pharmacy education programs limit research opportunities for pharmacists entering the workforce.

Successful research programs require strategic planning, mentorship, clear expectations, regular check-ins, and timely feedback. Layering learners can provide valuable training opportunities, enhance productivity, and ensure research continuity through near-peer mentorship. Addressing the challenges of incorporating learners into research can involve various strategies, including adopting flipped residency research models, implementing research contracts, and seeking external mentorship or support, such as assistance from an external statistician.

Defining research success in the context of involving learners includes considering individual objectives and goals, aligning them with measurable outcomes like presentations and manuscripts. Mentor success involves meeting promotion criteria for faculty, completing institution-related tasks for non-faculty clinicians, and maximizing outputs through various forms of dissemination.

The Adult Medicine PRN and Education and Training PRN have collaboratively developed a resource that offers insights on the mutual benefits of incorporating learners into research along with barriers to success and offers strategies to overcome these barriers. The toolkit also serves as a blueprint for both learners and mentors to navigate research planning and execution effectively and achieve success in research endeavors.

Presenting Author

Lisa Hong PharmD, BCPS
Loma Linda University

Authors

Kristi Kelley Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, CDE, BC-ADM
Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy

Jimmy Gonzalez PharmD
Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

Meredith Howard PharmD
University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy

Alex Isaacs PharmD
Sarah Nisly Pharm.D., MEd, BCPS, FCCP
Clinical Education Alliance

Taylor Steuber PharmD, BCPS
UMKC School of Pharmacy at MU

Jennifer Szwak PharmD, BCPS, FCCP
The Johns Hopkins Hospital