Educating Pharmacy Students to Improve Quality (EPIQ) in colleges and schools of pharmacy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess course instructors' and students' perceptions of the Educating Pharmacy Students and Pharmacists to Improve Quality (EPIQ) curriculum.


METHODS
Seven colleges and schools of pharmacy that were using the EPIQ program in their curricula agreed to participate in the study. Five of the 7 collected student retrospective pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. Changes in students' perceptions were evaluated to assess their relationships with demographics and course variables. Instructors who implemented the EPIQ program at each of the 7 colleges and schools were also asked to complete a questionnaire.


RESULTS
Scores on all questionnaire items indicated improvement in students' perceived knowledge of quality improvement. The university the students attended, completion of a class project, and length of coverage of material were significantly related to improvement in the students' scores. Instructors at all colleges and schools felt the EPIQ curriculum was a strong program that fulfilled the criteria for quality improvement and medication error reduction education.


CONCLUSIONS
The EPIQ program is a viable, turnkey option for colleges and schools of pharmacy to use in teaching students about quality improvement.
College of Pharmacy-Pulido Center, 1295 N Martin P.O. Box 210202, Tucson AZ 85721-0202, USA. Adrienne@pharmacy.arizona.edu
Adrienne M
AM
Gilligan
Jaclyn
J
Myers
James D
JD
Nash
Jill E
JE
Lavigne
Leticia R
LR
Moczygemba
Kimberly S
KS
Plake
Ana C
AC
Quiñones-Boex
David
D
Holdford
Donna
D
West-Strum
Terri L
TL
Warholak
D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy / Q000592:standards; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires