Developing Research-Informed Guidance on Preparing Pharmacy Students to Care for Diverse Populations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop research-informed guidance on how to better prepare students for working with diverse populations through exposure to diversity representation within case-based learning materials. Methods: This was a qualitative interpretive phenomenological study using audio-recorded semi-structured interviews for data collection. Interviews were conducted virtually with 15 recent program alumni from Dalhousie University and 15 members from underrepresented communities in Nova Scotia, Canada. Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim and framework analysis was used to code and categorize data. Themes were interpreted from categorized data and a conceptual model was developed based on the results. Results: The conceptual model highlighted that awareness of diversity and health equity paired with practice and application of learning were perceived to be important for preparing graduates for practice. It was found that awareness could be best achieved through exposure to diversity within cases. To effectively expose students, programs must deliberately identify diverse populations to include, seek perspectives and engagement from those populations when writing cases, ensure conscientious representation of diversity without reinforcing stereotypes, and provide resources for discussion and further learning. Conclusion: Through the development of a conceptual model, this study provided research-informed guidance representing diversity within case-based learning materials. Findings support the notion that representation of diversity must be deliberate, conscientious, and collaborative with those offering diverse perspectives and lived experiences.