A Retrospective Analysis and Curricular Mapping Assessment of Student Engagement in Research Design in Classes Offered by the College of Pharmacy at University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth

Purpose: Currently, UNTSCP does not have a process or a methodology developed to identify classes within its curriculum that offer the opportunity to learn, understand, and/or develop research design as outlined by the ACPE in 2016 Standards document. The aim of this study is to create a methodology and physical repository necessary to identify and classify core and elective classes offered by UNTSCP, which have provided opportunities in “research design”. This study is being submitted to receive feedback from students and faculty on classes, where at least one of the four key components of research design is presented, discussed, tested and actively practiced as outlined in the 2016 Standards document created by ACPE. Significance: The tool developed in our research will potentially allow pharmacy students to search for and identify classes offered at UNTSCP that have provided exposure to research design and identify which of the four key components of research design each class has covered. Faculty may even use the results of this study to elicit changes to the class curriculum. In addition, the administration of UNTSCP has its first full accreditation review in May 2017. To prepare for this, the administration of UNTSCP may use the results of this quality assurance project to show its compliance/adherence to the 2016 standards in the section detailing “Research Design.” Materials and Methods: Three stages will be undertaken in order to achieve the specific aims outlined. These stages include a curricular mapping assessment looking at course syllabus objectives and then verifying the results obtained with students through surveys and faculty via personal interviews. Conclusions: The results of this quality assurance project may lead to increased reproducible and meaningful research conducted by students and faculty at UNTSCP as a result of improved or increased research design experiences in the offered curriculum. This project could also lead to assessments done in other schools within UNTHSC such as School of Public Health, School of Health Professionals, and Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM).