Envisioning the Future of Academic Writing

Student Pharmacist Engagement in Infographic Creation to Increase Awareness of Impostor Phenomenon

OBJECTIVE

To assess first professional year (P1) students learning about impostor phenomenon (IP) through participation in learning activities featuring the creation of an educational IP infographic.

METHODS

A total of 167 P1 students were invited to complete a validated survey to determine baseline IP tendencies and attended a near-peer-delivered course lecture on IP. Student groups of 4 created an infographic containing IP lecture information and survey results, aimed at increasing IP awareness in a target audience. Mixed methods were integrated to assess learning outcomes. Qualitatively, infographics were evaluated by rubric for completeness, accuracy, and visual literacy, and student reflections were thematically evaluated on the impact of IP activities; quantitatively, 19 student learning objectives were anonymously self-assessed by Likert Scale survey. Students viewed all 42 created infographics, applied criteria, and voted for the 3 best.

RESULTS

Survey results indicated 58% of P1 students exhibited IP tendencies above the scale's defined threshold for significant impostorism. Student groups demonstrated IP learning through developing creative, accurate, and concise infographics, with a mean score of 85% (4.27/5). Assessment survey respondents agreed they can confidently describe IP (92%) and design an infographic for a target audience using acquired knowledge (99%). Through critical reflections on the impact of IP exercises, students expressed improvement in self-awareness and communication skills; described the benefits of engagement in random peer groups; and voiced appreciation for a novel method of learning material (infographic creation).

CONCLUSION

Students demonstrated learning about IP by incorporating lecture and survey results into engaging infographics and expressed benefits from learning about this important topic that is prevalent in P1 students.

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Last Matter: Introducing infographics to Methodology Matters

Visual summaries are gaining momentum in the health sciences literature. The Journal is introducing a new article type-Last Matter (LM). These will consist of infographics that quickly summarize and visually describe topics typically addressed in more detail within Methodology Matters reviews. The primary goal is to provide readers with clear guidance related to one or two common issues, pitfalls, or points of confusion when conducting pharmacy education scholarship. In addition to a graphical summary, a key element of each LM is a list of recommended resources for readers interested in more detailed information. The first Last Matter published in this issue summarizes key concepts related to quality in qualitative research. The Journal hopes these infographics may be helpful to for readers to comprehend and share, as well as to influence future contributions to the pharmacy education literature.