A pharmacy business management simulation exercise as a practical application of business management material and principles.
OBJECTIVE
To implement a pharmacy business management simulation exercise as a practical application of business management material and principles and assess students' perceived value.


METHODS
As part of a pharmacy management and administration course, students made various calculations and management decisions in the global categories of hours of operation, inventory, pricing, and personnel. The students entered the data into simulation software and a realistic community pharmacy marketplace was modeled. Course topics included accounting, economics, finance, human resources, management, marketing, and leadership.


RESULTS
An 18-item posttest survey was administered. Students' slightly to moderately agreed the pharmacy simulation program enhanced their knowledge and understanding, particularly of inventory management, cash flow statements, balance sheets, and income statements. Overall attitudes toward the pharmacy simulation program were also slightly positive and students also slightly agreed the pharmacy simulation program enhanced their learning of pharmacy business management. Inventory management was the only area in which students felt they had at least "some" exposure to the assessed business management topics during IPPEs/internship, while all other areas of experience ranged from "not at all" to "a little."


CONCLUSIONS
The pharmacy simulation program is an effective active-learning exercise and enhanced students' knowledge and understanding of the business management topics covered.
School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - GA Campus, Suwanee, Georgia.
Brent L
BL
Rollins
School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - GA Campus, Suwanee, Georgia.
Rahul
R
Gunturi
College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.
Donald
D
Sullivan
D000066:Accounting; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002017:Budgets; D032882:Comprehension; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D020399:Practice Management / Q000191:economics; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012984:Software; D013192:Staff Development; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
business; management; simulation; students