Student pharmacist experiences as inpatient psychiatry medication education group leaders during an early immersion program

Exploring what works in mental health education for health profession students: a realist review

INTRODUCTION

Mental health education is essential for preparing healthcare professionals to address the growing needs of patients with mental health challenges. The aim of this study was to understand the current landscape of teaching and learning approaches to mental health education for undergraduate health profession students.

METHODOLOGY

A realist review was chosen to explore what works for whom, how, and why in teaching and learning for mental health education for undergraduate health profession students. The search strategy was developed iteratively, with support from a research librarian, and additional searches supplemented the initial search. Following screening in duplicate, the selected studies were appraised for relevance, richness and rigour. Intervention (I), Context (C), Actor (A), Mechanism (M) and Outcome (O) configurations were extracted from the data and analysed for patterns and conceptual areas. Stakeholder and Patient and Public Involvement panels supported the refinement of both the Initial Programme Theory (IPT) and Programme Theories (PT).

RESULTS

78 articles were included. The results identified three critical program theories: (1) direct contact with individuals with lived experience (2), longitudinal and integrative learning approach, and (3) diversity of experiential and community-engaged learning. Integrating these theories into health education curricula may lead to professionals better prepared to address mental health challenges.

CONCLUSION

Our realist review identified three critical programme theories for teaching and learning strategies that foster this literacy, including direct engagement with individuals who have lived experiences, a longitudinal and integrative approach to education, and a diverse array of experiential and community-engaged learning opportunities.

Mental health training programs for community pharmacists, pharmacy staff and students: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Primary care is often the first point of contact for people living with mental disorders. Community pharmacists, pharmacy staff and students are increasingly being trained to deliver mental health care. However, there is still a gap in the literature exploring the characteristics of all available mental health training programs and their components and their influence on pharmacists, pharmacy staff and students' outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To summarize the evidence evaluating mental health training programs completed by community pharmacists, pharmacy staff and students. More specifically, to explore the components of mental health training programs and identify those that facilitate significant improvements in outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted following the Cochrane handbook and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. A search for published literature was conducted in three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) in July 2021. Eligible studies were included if they described and evaluated the impact of mental health training programs delivered to community pharmacists, pharmacy staff and pharmacy students regardless of design or comparator. The methodological quality of included studies was appraised using both the NIH quality assessment, to evaluate studies with an uncontrolled pre-post design, and the Cochrane EPOC risk of bias assessment, to evaluate studies with a controlled (randomized and non-randomized) study design.

RESULTS

Thirty-three studies were included. Most of the identified mental health training programs contained knowledge-based components and active learning activities. Changes in participants' attitudes, stigma, knowledge, confidence and skills were frequently assessed. An extensive range of self-assessment and observational instruments used to evaluate the impact of the training programs were identified. Positive improvements in participants' attitudes, knowledge and stigma were frequently identified following participation in training programs.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review highlights the importance of mental health training programs in increasing pharmacists', pharmacy staff and pharmacy students' skills and confidence to deliver mental health care in community pharmacy. Future research should build upon this basis and further focus on finding the most efficient measures to evaluate these training programs and assess their long-term effectiveness, allowing comparison between programs.

Establishing the role of the pharmacist in mental health: Implementing Mental Health First Aid into the doctor of pharmacy core curriculum

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of implementing Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum on student pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and empathy towards people with mental health conditions and/or crises.

METHODS

Participants were third-year PharmD students enrolled in Patient Care Experience, a required communication and ethics course. A survey was administered pre- and post-intervention (i.e. MHFA training). Student pharmacist self-efficacy in assisting someone developing a mental health condition or in crisis was evaluated using confidence measures from the MHFA action plan. Knowledge was measured using Mental Health Knowledge Statements. Attitudes were assessed with the Index of Attitudes Towards Mental Illness, and stigma was evaluated using the Social Distancing Scale. Empathy was measured with the Kiersma-Chen Empathy Scale.

RESULTS

Both pre- and post-intervention surveys were completed by 97 of 135 participants (71.9% response rate). MHFA training resulted in significantly increased self-efficacy and empathy. There were no significant differences in knowledge, attitudes, and stigma.

CONCLUSIONS

MHFA training was associated with increases in student pharmacist empathy and self-efficacy in providing support to individuals with mental health crises.