title: An introductory pharmacy practice experience on improving medication adherence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of a medication adherence activity on introductory pharmacy practice experience students' perceptions of patient adherence as well as student development of empathy and confidence in patient counseling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students participated in a personal medication simulation using an automated medication dispenser. Students then identified a patient with nonadherence and provided counseling on use of the dispenser. After 4 to 6 weeks, students interviewed the patient about their experience with the dispenser and assessed changes in adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred fifty-three students completed the assignment and 3 surveys instruments. Following the experience, the majority of students agreed or strongly agreed that they developed more empathy for patients with multiple medications and felt confident counseling a patient in the use of a dispenser (92.0% and 88.2%, respectively). Most students (91.4%) reported feeling that their patient education session was successful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An introductory pharmacy practice experience involving an automated medication dispenser and patient counseling to improve medication adherence resulted in the development of empathy and improved student confidence.
authors.affiliation: Purdue University College of Pharmacy, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. darbishi@purdue.edu
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Darbishire
authors.forename: Kimberly S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Plake
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kiersma
authors.forename: Jessalynn K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003376:Counseling; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult