Impact of a health literacy presentation during an Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience

ObjectivesTo identify the influence of an educational health literacy presentation by student pharmacists on community pharmacist preceptors participating in an Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) focused on the identification and assistance of patients with low health literacy skills.MethodsOne-hundred thirty-four second-year Doctor of Pharmacy students spent 20 hours completing a health literacy module in community pharmacies as part of their required curriculum. At the conclusion of the module, students provided pharmacy staff with an educational presentation on health literacy and suggestions for the staff to improve the identification and assistance of limited health literacy patients. Preceptor pharmacists were subsequently invited to complete an online survey to identify changes made to their practice based on student presentations and to assess their own understanding of health literacy.ResultsAfter completion of the IPPE student health literacy presentation, 61% of pharmacists reported making at least one change to better identify or care for patients with low health literacy. The most common changes implemented were decreasing the amount of medical jargon spoken during medication consultations and increasing the number of open-ended question asked to patients.ConclusionsIPPE students may be used to influence the practice habits of community pharmacists to identify and assist patients with low health literacy. Similar IPPE health literacy modules may be applied to other schools and colleges of pharmacy.