The Design of a Sterile Product Laboratory Module as Preparation for an Institutional IPPE Course

Objectives: To develop a pharmaceutics laboratory module on compounded sterile products for the second year pharmacy students as preparation for an institutional pharmacy experiential course. Method: A 5-week lab module was designed and implemented as part of the Pharmaceutics Lab Course to provide training in the basic skills of sterile product compounding. The module included techniques in the handling of sterile products, aseptic techniques, medium risk products, and hazardous products. A practical exam was given at the end of this module to ensure student competency. Upon completion of the lab module, students enrolled in a required 4-week institutional pharmacy experiential course (IPPE-2), where students were required to compound a minimum of 10 sterile products. Students were then asked to participate in a survey assessing the effectiveness and relevance of the lab module as preparation for their IPPE-2. Results: The sterile product lab module was offered in the spring semester with 75 students enrolled. All students passed the sterile product lab module and continued onto the IPPE-2 course during the following summer. The student survey indicated that the students felt well prepared for the IPPE-2 and that the preceptors were satisfied with their prior training in sterile compounding. The average scores ranged from 4.8 - 6.5 (scale of 1-7) for the various products addressed in the lab module. Implications: The 5-week sterile product lab module progressively prepares the students with the basic skills and knowledge in compounding sterile products. This preparedness allows the students to transition smoothly into the subsequent institutional pharmacy experiential course. Copyright © 2011 American Association of Colleges of Pharmac