title: Second-year pharmacy students' perceptions of adhering to a complex simulated medication regimen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a simulated medication regimen with second-year pharmacy students to determine their anticipated versus actual difficulty in adhering to it.
  
  
  METHODS
  Second-year pharmacy students were given 6 fictitious medications (jellybeans) and a drug regimen to adhere to for 6 days. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were conducted to compare participants anticipated vs. actual difficulty with adherence and changes in empathy toward patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 69 (96%) students who participated in the study missed on average 16% of all simulated medication doses and noted that adhering to the complex medication regimen was more difficult than they had anticipated. Eighty-nine percent of students agreed or strongly agreed the project was valuable in developing empathy towards patients taking complex medication regimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacy students participating in a simulated medication regimen missed a notable number of doses and reported a greater level of empathy for patients taking complex medication regiments. Finding meaningful ways to integrate adherence into the curriculum is essential.
authors.affiliation: Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4887 Kelly Avenue, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA. tulbrich@neomed.edu
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ulbrich
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lehotsky
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*