Co-curricular assessment plan for developing pharmacy professionals (RxPro) after the first professional year

Introduction: To measure changes in student professionalism from co-curricular activities. Methods: A prospective cohort study followed first-year pharmacy students at The University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy. Students completed one co-curricular activity each semester. Learning was assessed using the RxPro VALUE rubric and Professionalism Assessment Tool (PAT) at the beginning and end of the first professional year. The RxPro VALUE rubric included six domains (connections to experience, lifelong learning, diversity of communities and cultures, civic identity and commitment, empathy, and reflection and self-assessment) and was rated from 0 (not yet applied) to 4 (exemplary). The PAT contained 33-items in five domains (reliability, responsibility, and accountability; lifelong learning and adaptability; relationships with others; upholding principles of integrity and respect; and citizenship and professional engagement) and was rated from 1 (knows) to 5 (teaches) (maximum score = 165). Results: Mean scores on the RxPro VALUE rubric increased (p < 0.05) from baseline to end of year in five domains: connections to experience (1.44 vs. 2.07), diversity of communities and cultures (1.75 vs. 2.3), civic identity and commitment (1.34 vs. 2.33), empathy (1.44 vs. 2.37), and reflection and self-assessment (1.53 vs 2.19). No significant changes were seen in PAT scores from baseline (M = 114.19, standard deviation = 32.832) to end of year (M = 119.56, standard deviation = 29.63, p = 0.35). Conclusions: The RxPro VALUE rubric detected growth in professional behaviors among first-year doctor of pharmacy students, while no significant change was observed in the PAT.