• Implementation of a Mental Hea...

*Result*: Implementation of a Mental Health Telehealth Simulation for Student Pharmacists.

Title:
Implementation of a Mental Health Telehealth Simulation for Student Pharmacists.
Authors:
Barash AA; Washington State University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Spokane, WA, USA., Kennedy J; Western New England University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Springfield, MA, USA., McKeirnan KC; Washington State University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Spokane, WA, USA. Electronic address: kimberly.mckeirnan@wsu.edu.
Source:
American journal of pharmaceutical education [Am J Pharm Educ] 2026 Jan; Vol. 90 (1), pp. 101919. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Dec 11.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Elsevier Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0372650 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1553-6467 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00029459 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Pharm Educ Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: 2023- : [New York] : Elsevier Inc.
Original Publication: Alexandria, Va. : American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
MeSH Terms:
Education, Pharmacy*/methods , Mental Health*/education , Simulation Training*/methods , Students, Pharmacy* , Telemedicine*, Humans ; Clinical Competence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Patient Simulation ; Male ; Female
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Mental health; Simulation; Standardized patients; Telehealth
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20251212 Date Completed: 20260115 Latest Revision: 20260115
Update Code:
20260130
DOI:
10.1016/j.ajpe.2025.101919
PMID:
41386493
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*Objective: To implement a mental health telehealth simulation, evaluate student pharmacist performance of telehealth skills, and gather student pharmacist opinions regarding confidence and comfort conducting telehealth and interest in telehealth practice.
Methods: A mental health telehealth simulation was developed for student pharmacists in the second professional year. The simulation involved 4 components: reviewing a patient chart and guidelines in preparation for the simulation; logging into the telehealth simulation and reviewing additional patient information; interviewing a standardized patient to gather information; and presenting written recommendations. A psychiatrist was consulted during simulation development. A survey was conducted before and after the simulation to gather students' opinions about telehealth and their comfort and confidence with telehealth patient interaction skills.
Results: Fifty-eight student pharmacists completed the simulation during Fall 2024. Student pharmacists performed well overall, with an average score of 92%. Areas of weaker performance included recommending nonpharmacologic therapy options (74%) and providing education about when to seek emergency care (77%). Following the simulation, students reported higher confidence in providing patient care via telehealth, identifying therapeutic needs, assessing health history, and utilizing pharmacologic knowledge. Students also felt more prepared for upcoming experiential activities, but no change was observed in telehealth career interest.
Conclusion: The telehealth simulation increased student pharmacists' perceived comfort and improved confidence in telehealth delivery skills, and increased feelings of preparedness for experiential rotations. Providing patient care via telehealth is an important skill for student pharmacists to learn and practice, considering its rapidly expanding role in health care delivery.
(Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)*

*Declaration of Competing Interest None declared.*