Using a Pharmacy Aisle as
the Final Exam
Cindy Wuller, M.S. and
Miranda Wilhelm, Pharm.D.
School of Pharmacy
Course Background
•
•
•
•
•
PHEL 779 – Advanced Self-Care Elective
3rd Professional Year Pharmacy Students
2 credit elective course in Spring semester
Meeting time: 2 hours once a week
Maximum enrollment: 20 students
Final Exam Components
• Honesty Pledge
• Patient Case
• Optional Written Component
Players
Instructors
Graders
Pharmacy Residents
Simulated patient
Other Faculty
Timekeeper, Gatekeeper
Student
Student
Classroom Preparation
• Introduce first day of class
• Use cases and scenarios during semester
• Assignment
– Students pair up to create a case and simulate a
counseling session
– Instructor uses the rubric to grade the encounter
– Encounter worth ½ point value as the final
Set Up for the Exam
• Contact pharmacy with dates
– Early morning works best
•
•
•
•
Identify target areas for exam, write case
Write script for patient
Recruit pharmacy residents and faculty to assist
Assemble supplies
–
–
–
–
Stop watch
Paper, pens, clipboards
Products to be used for exam
Select specific aisle and area for writing
Preparation on Day of Exam
• Instructors, other faculty and residents meet
at site one hour before exam
• Go over duties and specific places for
events
• Pull products and set up “area” for exam
• Set up writing area
Events on Exam Day
•
•
•
•
Student comes to pharmacy
Greeted by gatekeeper
Signs Honesty Pledge
Gatekeeper sends student down aisle to
meet with “patient”
• Instructor and time keeper observe
encounter
Exam Components
• Time Limit = 5 minutes
• Student greets “patient” and begins to
assess the problem by asking questions
• Looks over limited products available
• Determines best product for the problem
• Counsels “patient” on use of the product
Grading
• Use of rubric
–
–
–
–
Introduction
Problem Assessment
Action Plan and Counseling
Communication skills
• Aisle time – 5 minutes
• Written portion – 5 minutes
After the Exam
• Student can go to a designated area and
write down anything about the exam
– Questions forgot to ask
– Counseling points missed
• Can write for up to 5 minutes
• Can earn up to 10 points back with written
material
• Must leave the area after 5 minutes
Questions?
Question?
Can you use this style of exam in
your discipline?
Our Take
• Nursing - communication encounter at
bedside
• Engineering – real life project to find
good/bad points
• Computer science – solve a simple real life
issue