Students' perceptions of global health competencies in the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum.
INTRODUCTION
This study sought to determine pharmacy students' self-assessment of their level of competency in specified global health statements across various schools. It also evaluated attributes associated with competency and perception of importance, as well as explored students' perspectives on how best to incorporate global health content into pharmacy education.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey administered online to pharmacy students from three pharmacy schools in the United States.


RESULTS
The self-assessed competency of pharmacy students in global health topic areas was low. Current or prior exposures outside of the PharmD curriculum to the global health content presented in the survey were significant indicators of self-assessed competency scores. Within individual participating schools, demographic characteristics such as gender, age category, speaking a non-English language, and progression through the PharmD curriculum were also significantly associated with competency scores reported. Most respondents (96%) agreed that relevant global health education should be incorporated into the pharmacy curriculum.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacy students generally perceive global health competencies to be of great importance in practice, but acknowledge their deficiencies in this area. The current burden of global health education at the schools surveyed relies on individual student experience rather than curricular support. Ensuring that future pharmacists understand their role in global health teams and are able to achieve the necessary level of competency to function in interdisciplinary initiatives will require more strategic incorporation of relevant content into the curriculum.
['Eneh|Prosperity|P|', 'Steeb|David R|DR|', 'Cope|Rebecca|R|', 'Gim|Suzanna|S|', 'Northrop|Elise F|EF|', 'Brearley|Ann M|AM|', 'Okoro|Olihe|O|']
D002983:Clinical Competence D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003479:Curriculum D004514:Education, Pharmacy, Graduate D014943:Global Health D006801:Humans D010465:Perception D013339:Students, Pharmacy
Global health Global health competency Pharmacy PharmD curriculum Public health