Progress examination for assessing students' readiness for advanced pharmacy practice experiences.
OBJECTIVE
To create a valid assessment tool to evaluate the readiness of pharmacy students for advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs).


METHODS
The Triple Jump Examination (TJE) was tailored to the 4-year, 2-plus-2 curriculum of the College. It consisted of (1) a written, case-based, closed-book examination, (2) a written, case-based open-book examination, and (3) an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The TJE was administered at the end of each 4 academic semesters. Progression of students to APPEs was dependent on achieving a preset minimum cumulative (weighted average) score in the 4 consecutive TJE examinations.


RESULTS
The predictive utility of the examination was demonstrated by a strong correlation between the cumulative TJE scores and the preceptor grades in the first year (P3) of APPEs (r = 0.60, p > 0.0001). Reliability of the TJE was shown by strong correlations among the 4 successive TJE examinations. A survey probing the usefulness of TJE indicated acceptance by both students and faculty members.


CONCLUSIONS
The TJE program is an effective tool for the assessment of pharmacy students' readiness for the experiential years. In addition, the TJE provides guidance for students to achieve preparedness for APPE.
Mészáros
Károly
K
College of Pharmacy, Touro University, 1310 Johnson Lane, Mare Island, Vallejo, CA 94592, USA. kmeszaro@touro.edu
Barnett
Mitchell J
MJ
McDonald
Karna
K
Wehring
Heidi
H
Evans
David J
DJ
Sasaki-Hill
Debra
D
Goldsmith
Paul C
PC
Knapp
Katherine K
KK
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000379:methods*; D003625:Data Collection; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical; D013339:Students, Pharmacy