title: Blended Simulation Progress Testing for Assessment of Practice Readiness.
abstract: Objective.To design an assessment of practice readiness using blended-simulation progress testing.Design.A five-station, blended simulation assessment was developed to evaluate patient care outcomes in first- and third-year pharmacy (P1 and P3) students, as well as first-year postgraduate (PGY1) pharmacy residents. This assessment of practice readiness included knowledge and performance evaluations administered as a progress test.Assessment.Eighteen PGY1 residents, 108 P3 students, and 106 P1 students completed the assessment. P3 students scored significantly higher than P1 students across all evaluations. Third-year pharmacy students scored significantly lower than PGY1 residents in interprofessional communications and attitudes of ownership in a standardized colleague/mannequin model station, and in patient communication in a standardized patient station.Conclusion.Learners demonstrated evolving skills as they progressed through the curriculum. A blended simulation integrated progress test provides data for improvement of individual student clinical skills, informs curricular advancement, and aligns curricular content, process, and outcomes with accreditation standards.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smithburger
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Amy Calabrese
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Donihi
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Empey
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kobulinsky
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seybert
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drab
authors.affiliation: WISER Education and Simulation Facility, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.affiliation: WISER Education and Simulation Facility, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008348:Manikins; D005791:Patient Care; D011364:Professional Practice; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013339:Students, Pharmacy
keywords: assessment; progress test; quality assurance; readiness; simulation