Residents and Fellows Research in Progress
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
08:30 AM–10:00 AM
Abstract
Introduction: The University of Ottawa (uOttawa) developed a unique four-year undergraduate Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program starting in fall 2023. The program adopts a non-traditional approach known as a spiral curriculum to address the evolving demands of the pharmacy profession. Course development within a spiral curriculum presents unique challenges that can impede effective implementation of the innovative curriculum.
Research Question or Hypothesis: To identify and understand the barriers and facilitators encountered by educators during the process of course development.
Study Design: Qualitative study
Methods: One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted over Teams with educators actively engaged in the development of Year 1 PharmD courses from January to May 2023. The interviews were conducted in both French and English, transcribed verbatim, and subjected to deductive thematic content analysis within a theoretical domains framework by two bilingual investigators using NVivo.
Results: Participants unanimously highlighted social support as a key facilitator for spiral curriculum implementation. It promoted communication, teamwork, and collaboration, fostering a positive environment where educators, regardless of their backgrounds, experienced successful teamwork. However, the absence of shared documents listing course educators posed a significant integration barrier. Despite this challenge, educators were committed to effective collaboration. Their perspective on vertical integration resembles a dynamic chess game, as the lack of shared documents often limits their visibility into colleagues' actions and plans. Thus, their primary challenge is discerning who is responsible for courses to collaborate effectively and to integrate redundancy skillfully.
Conclusion: The study identified facilitators and barriers in first-year PharmD course development, emphasizing collaboration. These findings will guide evidence-based strategies for course development, educator training, and program improvement. Future research should focus on challenges in the second-year PharmD program, including vertical integration. Additionally, the study's findings can provide valuable insights for institutions adopting a spiral curriculum.
Presenting Author
Letissia Fadel HBSc, PharmDHopital Montfort
Authors
Christine Landry BPharm, MSc, PharmD
University of Ottawa
Genevieve Gauthier PhD
University of Ottawa
Pierre Giguère BScPharm, MSc
University of Ottawa
Genevieve Goulet BSc, BPharm, PharmD
University of Ottawa
Pierre Moreau BPharm, PharmD, PhD
Kuwait University
Kaila Tims HBSc
University of Waterloo