ASSESSMENT OF CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE GAPS AMONG PHARM.D INTERNS DURING THEIR FIRST HOSPITAL ROTATIONS

Ayesha  Ashraf; Syeda Nazish Sohaib

Authors

Ayesha Ashraf University of Management and Technology Lahore, Pakistan. Author
Syeda Nazish Sohaib Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Author

Keywords:

Clinical Competence, Clinical Pharmacy Education, Cross-Sectional Studies, Knowledge Gaps, Pharmacy Interns, Pharmacotherapy, Pharm.D Education, Student Assessment

Abstract

Background: Clinical pharmacy education aims to equip Pharm.D students with the knowledge and skills required for evidence-based patient care. However, during initial hospital rotations, interns often encounter real-world clinical scenarios that reveal deficiencies in their applied knowledge. Identifying these gaps is essential for targeted curriculum improvement and the development of effective pre-rotation training strategies.

Objective: To evaluate common areas of clinical knowledge weakness among Pharm.D interns during their first hospital rotations.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over four months in major teaching hospitals of Lahore. Using stratified random sampling, 150 Pharm.D interns in their first hospital rotation were assessed through a validated, structured questionnaire covering pharmacotherapy, pharmacokinetics, clinical decision-making, and patient counseling. Demographic data, prior clinical exposure, and academic performance were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, and independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA were applied to compare mean scores across subgroups, as the data were normally distributed. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB/PHARM/2025/09), and written informed consent was secured from all participants.

Results: Among 150 interns (mean age 23.1 ± 1.2 years), 62.7% were female. The overall mean knowledge score was 63.4 ± 12.5%, with significant gaps observed in pharmacokinetics (mean 55.2 ± 14.1%) and evidence-based therapeutic decision-making (mean 57.8 ± 13.4%). Interns with prior clinical electives achieved higher scores (68.5 ± 10.9%) compared to those without such exposure (61.1 ± 11.7%, p = 0.02).

Conclusion: Substantial deficiencies in applied pharmacotherapy knowledge exist among Pharm.D interns during early clinical exposure. Integration of active learning, structured mentorship, and enhanced pre-rotation training is recommended to bridge these gaps and strengthen clinical readiness.

Author Biographies

Ayesha Ashraf, University of Management and Technology Lahore, Pakistan.

University of Management and Technology Lahore, Pakistan.
Syeda Nazish Sohaib, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

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