Original Research
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
08:30 AM–10:00 AM
Abstract
Introduction: Uncertainty tolerance (UT) includes the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral response to minimize negative and maximize positive effects of uncertainty. With increasing involvement of pharmacists in clinical situations, including decision-making roles and expanding prescriptive authority, management of uncertainty is a desirable component of pharmacy education leading to improved UT as pharmacists. The tolerance of ambiguity scale (TAS) is a validated instrument in which higher scores represent lower UT (average score 44-48).
Research Question or Hypothesis: An inpatient rounding simulation (IRS) exposing student-pharmacists to a level of uncertainty will lead to change in TAS scores and self-reflection comment themes.
Study Design: IRB-approved, pre-post observational, pilot survey.
Methods: Student-pharmacists in their second professional year enrolled in a skills-based course were included.Student-pharmacist groups of 4-5 completed an IRS and responded to clinical questions in a timed environment and completed pre-/post-IRS TAS and self-reflection on uncertainty/UT. Pre-/post-IRS TAS scores were analyzed with paired t-tests. Thematic analysis and Fisher’s exact test were used to evaluate qualitative self-reflection.
Results: 59 students responded (48% response rate). TAS was high, but not different pre/post-IRS (63.2 vs. 62.6, p=0.63). The most common theme regarding source of uncertainty pre-IRS was the clinical question posed to the group (n=17, 26%). The most common way of overcoming uncertainty pre-IRS was working with groups or availability of resources (n=20, 30%; for each). Relief that the IRS was over was most frequent positive theme pre-IRS (n=11, 28%). The most common source of uncertainty post-IRS was discerning the best answer (n=25, 38%). The most common way of overcoming uncertainty post-IRS was working with groups (n=27, 44%). Working with groups was the most frequent positive theme post-IRS (n=10, 24%). Working with groups was thematically more common post/pre-IRS (10 vs 0, p=0.001).
Conclusion: Student-pharmacists had low UT pre- and post-IRS. Group utilization was cited as a positive in an uncertain environment that occurred more frequently post-IRS.
Presenting Author
Nicole Cieri-Hutcherson PharmD, BCPS, MSCPUniversity at Buffalo
Authors
Collin M. Clark PharmD, BCPS, BCGP
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences