Fourth-year student pharmacists’ perceptions of a required student-run free clinic experience

Objective

The University of Michigan Student-Run Free Clinic (UMSRFC) provides quality preventive, acute, and chronic care free of charge to uninsured and underinsured community members. We sought to assess fourth-year student pharmacists’ (P4) attitudes toward providing care as part of a required experience at the UMSRFC during their Ambulatory Care Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience.

Methods

All P4s in the 2023–2024 academic year completed an 8-hour experience at the UMSRFC. Preclinic and postclinic surveys were electronically administered, and items related to social determinants of health, patient-centered care, interprofessional teams, and interest in future opportunities were included. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t tests.

Results

A total of 78 of 83 students (94.0%) participated in the research study. After the experience, students reported higher comfort with providing efficient, cost-effective pharmacy services, assessing patients’ health care status and needs, and advocating for and assisting patients in obtaining the resources and care they need. Students also reported a higher level of comfort collaborating as part of an interprofessional team after the experience. Most students (92.3%) recommended that the experience continue for future P4s.

Conclusion

A clinical experience at a student-run free clinic can allow P4s to practice multiple skills that align with the Curricular Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activities. After this experience, P4s felt more comfortable working with underserved populations and collaborating on interprofessional teams and reported being more likely to volunteer at a free medical clinic. We encourage pharmacy programs affiliated with a student-run free clinic to consider implementing a required clinical experience for P4 students.