J Educ Eval Health Prof.  2017;14:6. 10.3352/jeehp.2017.14.6.

Attitudes to proposed assessment of pharmacy skills in Korean pharmacist licensure examination

• Kim JH
• Lee JY
• Lee YS
• Yong CS
• Han N
• Gwak HS
• Oh J
• Lee BK
• Lee S

• KMID: 2406669
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2017.14.6

Abstract

PURPOSE
The survey aimed to obtain opinions about a proposed implementation of pharmacy skills assessment in Korean pharmacist licensure examination (KPLE).
METHODS
A 16-question survey was distributed electronically to 2,738 people including 570 pharmacy professors of 35 pharmacy schools, 550 preceptors from 865 practice sites and 1,618 students who graduated in 2015. The survey solicited responses concerning the adequacy of the current KPLE in assessing pharmacy knowledge/skills/attitudes, deficiencies of pharmacy skills testing in assessing the professional competencies necessary for pharmacists, plans for pharmacy skills tests in the current KPLE, and subject areas of pharmacy practice.
RESULTS
A total of 466 surveys were returned. The current exam is not adequate for assessing skills and attitudes according to 42%-48% of respondents. Sixty percent felt that skills test is necessary to assess qualifications and professional competencies. Almost two-thirds of participants stated that testing should be implemented within 5 years. More than 60% agreed that candidates should be graduates and that written and skills test scores can be combined for pass-fail decisions. About 70% of respondents felt that the test should be less than 2 hours in duration. Over half of the respondents thought that the assessor should be a pharmacy faculty member with at least 5 years of clinical experience. Up to 70% stated that activities related to patient care were appropriate and practical for the scope of skills test.
CONCLUSION
Pharmacy skills assessment was supported by the majority of respondents.

Keyword

Korean pharmacist licensure exam; Pharmacy skills assessment; Survey

MeSH Terms

Humans
Licensure*
Patient Care
Pharmacists*
Pharmacy*
Schools, Pharmacy
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Survey results about adequacy of the current pharmacist licensure examination and needs of pharmacy skills test.

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  Fig. 2. Survey results about the implementation plan for pharmacy skills test. Values are presented as number (%).

Reference

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