Education in pediatrics in US colleges and schools of pharmacy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent to which pediatrics is taught at US doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programs and to characterize what is being taught and how.


METHODS
A 40-question online survey instrument was sent to accredited and candidate-status US PharmD programs.


RESULTS
Of 86 participating programs (67.2% response rate), 81 (94.2%) indicated that pediatric topics were included in their required classroom curricula (mean, 21.9 contact hours). A pediatric elective course was offered by 61.0% of programs (mean, 25.9 contact hours). Advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) in pediatrics were offered by 97.4% of programs, with an average of 27 students per program completing this practice experience annually.


CONCLUSIONS
Almost all responding programs incorporated pediatrics in their required curricula. Pediatric elective courses provided an adequate mean number of contact hours, but 39.0% of programs did not offer an elective course. One-fifth of students completed a pediatric APPE prior to graduation. Continued expansion of pediatric-focused classroom and experiential curricula across US PharmD programs is recommended.
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
William Allan
WA
Prescott
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
Elizabeth M
EM
Dahl
Wegmans School of Pharmacy, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, New York.
David J
DJ
Hutchinson
D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States
curriculum; pediatrics; pharmacy education