title: The impact of advanced pharmacy practice experiences on students' readiness for self-directed learning.
abstract: To evaluate the impact of advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) on doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students' readiness for self-directed learning.
  
  
  
  The Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) was administered to students prior to and after completing their APPEs. SDLRS is a validated instrument that determines the relative degree to which students have the attitudes and motivation to engage in self-directed learning.
  
  
  
  Seventy-seven (64%) students completed the SDLRS prior to starting their APPEs and 80 (67%) students completed the instrument after completing their APPEs. Forty-six (38%) students completed both. Prior to starting their APPEs, 74% of students scored greater than 150 on the SDLRS, indicating a high level of readiness for self-directed learning. No significant difference was found between the mean scores of students who took the SDLRS both prior to (159 +/- 20) and after completing their APPEs (159 +/- 24; p > 0.05).
  
  
  
  Students at our institution appear to be ready for self-directed learning but APPEs had a minimal impact on their readiness for self-directed learning.
authors: University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, Baltimore, MD 21201-1180, USA. dhuynh@rx.umaryland.edu
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Huynh
authors: Stuart T
authors: ST
authors: Haines
authors: Cecilia M
authors: CM
authors: Plaza
authors: Deborah A
authors: DA
authors: Sturpe
authors: Greg
authors: G
authors: Williams
authors: Magaly A
authors: MA
authors: Rodriguez de Bittner
authors: David S
authors: DS
authors: Roffman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004514:Education, Pharmacy, Graduate / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult