SP3 Understanding lived experiences: a novel undergraduate paediatric work-based learning placement
Authors: Vasey Nicola , Richardson Charlotte , Mundell Amy , Rathbone Adam 
Published: April 2022

Introduction and Aim

Pharmacy undergraduate education and training is undergoing a transformation as placement providers and Schools of Pharmacy look to create more meaningful learning experiences. Work-based learning involves the placement of students within a work environment to experience and take part in work-related activities. In the majority these experiences are within adult care.

The aim of this placement was to provide pharmacy students with paediatric specific education with the focus on patient and family centred care.

Method

A novel work-based learning placement was designed for year 4 undergraduate pharmacy students within a paediatric hospital in North-East England. Students attended one three-hour session on alternate weeks to a total of five. The premise was for students to work in pairs on a paediatric ward to talk to children, families, and carers about their lived experiences of the child’s condition, and care. The focus was not to give advice or to focus on medication use, but rather the experience was intentionally unstructured so that the students could discuss broader topics with the aim of understanding the families’ experiences to develop their patient-centred approach to consultations. Students document their conversations and reported back to a session supervisor (a clinical pharmacist) who conducted a debrief. This work represents a content analysis of the activities of the students to present this innovative educational intervention; no ethical approval was required.

Results

A total of 42 year 4 students took part in the placement between January and May 2021. Students worked across a mixture of five wards including respiratory, neurology and surgery. Students spoke to a mixture of child inpatients, family members including parents, siblings, and extended family, and carers/other legal guardians. Topics varied and included: medicine use, explanation of diseases and non-pharmaceutical treatments by the families to the students, discussion of the impact on the child’s education, parental work, homelife and siblings. The students were exposed to a range of circumstance of the families e.g. low income, ethnic minority and cared for children, and also a range in the seriousness and longevity of the admission e.g. end of life care, tonsilitis and appendectomy, Crohn’s disease, asthma and bronchiolitis, epilepsy and varied genetic conditions and illnesses.

The students appeared to have a greater awareness of paediatric care and treatments and appeared to grow in confidence in talking to children directly and to family members/carers. The families also engaged and were willing to share their experiences and at times spent long periods with the students with some taking ownership of teaching them. It appears that the families recognised this as an opportunity to raise awareness of their child’s disease and to teach future professionals.

Conclusion

This work demonstrates a novel placement in paediatric education and training. The students demonstrated improved confidence in paediatric consultations and a greater awareness of paediatric care through being exposed to a range of clinical areas, and types of patients and families. The families also appeared to enjoy sharing their experiences.