Survey of physical assessment course offerings in American Colleges of Pharmacy

The incorporation of physical assessment instruction/skills into the curricula of U.S. schools and colleges of pharmacy has received increased emphasis due to the acceptance of pharmaceutical care as the model for the practicing pharmacist. Because of the move to offer solely the entry-level Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, we were particularly interested in the current status of physical assessment instruction/skills in these schools and colleges of pharmacy. A 29-item questionnaire was developed and tested at two schools. The revised survey was mailed to pharmacy practice chairs at each of the 77 schools of pharmacy in February 1995. Fifty-five surveys were returned (71 percent return rate); 32 indicated that they had an entry-level PharmD program. Twenty four (75 percent) of the responding entry-level programs had a separate course devoted to physical assessment. Eight (25 percent) programs indicated that physical assessment material was incorporated into other courses. The typical course was two semester credits. A mean total of 36.2 contact hours was devoted to these courses. The majority (68 percent) were offered in the third professional year (fifth year of a six-year program). The most frequently used text was Longe & Calvert's Physical Assessment: A Guide for Evaluating Drug Therapy. Most programs required students to purchase at least a stethoscope, and required the students to demonstrate competence in the use of a stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, ophthalmo-/otoscope, tuning fork and reflex hammer. Only about one-third of the programs formally evaluate the student's physical assessment skills during clerkships. The most common reasons cited for offering a physical assessment course included: (i) it was needed for providing pharmaceutical care; (ii) it facilitated better understanding for total patient care management and; (iii) it promoted better communication with health care practitioners. Surprisingly, less than 50 percent of the respondents listed ''preparation for future prescriptive authority'' as a reason. This survey further examined the current status of physical assessment instruction in the entry-level PharmD programs and it characterized the curricular content of the physical assessment courses and identified reasons for offering such a course.