Written by PTB Reports, 2022, 8, 3, 113-122.
DOI: 10.5530/PTB.2022.8.15
Published: December 2022
Type: Research Article
Authors: Yousef Ahmed Alomi, Nahed Rashid Alyami, Fatma Faiz Alasmari, Seham Abed Almehmadi, Juman Alsaab, Shumukh Saleh Al Thubaiti, and Raghad Abdullah Ali Alghamdi
Author(s) affiliations:
Dr. Yousef Ahmed Alomi*, BSc. Pharm, MSc. Clin Pharm, BCPS, BCNSP, DiBA, CDE, Critical Care Clinical Pharmacist, TPN Clinical Pharmacist, Freelancer Business Planner, Content Editor, and Data Analyst, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.
Nahed Rashid Alyami, BSc, Mphil, BCPS, BCCCP, CPHQ Head of Clinical Pharmacy Unit, ID and ICU Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Jubail General Hospital, Jubail, SAUDI ARABIA.
Fatma Faiz Alasmari, Bsc. Pharm, MQPS, Director, Performance Improvement Officer, Medication Safety officer, Pediatric and Maternity Hospital, Jeddah, SAUDI ARABIA.
Seham Abed Almehmadi, Pharm D, Forces Hospital, Makkah, SAUDI ARABIA.
Juman Alsaab, Pharm D, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.
Shumukh Saleh Al Thubaiti, Pharm D, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, SAUDI ARABIA.
Raghad Abdullah Ali Alghamdi, Pharm D, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, SAUDI ARABIA.
Abstract
Objectives: Researching the perceptions of standardized licensure examinations in the pharmaceutical sector is vital to measure key pharmacy competence and skills assessment of entry-level pharmacists. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to explore the perceptions of the Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Exam (SPLE) in improving pharmacy practice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by focusing on the experiences and attitudes pharmacy workers had regarding SPLE pharmacy standards and factors associated with passing the exam. The data for this study was collected through a survey and analyzed using the survey monkey systems and the statistical package of social sciences (SPSS). The study used a sample size of 701 participants statistically calculated with a 95% CI, 1.96 z score, and 5% margin error. Results: The study found low scores (M=2.77, p=.001) in the perceptions of SPLE in assessing entry-level pharmacists-related skills, attitudes, and knowledge that increase graduates’ readiness for pharmacy practice. Location, gender, marital status, age, experience years, income, GPA results, and the number of SPLE admissions affected SPLE perception and passing rates. Conclusion: The pharmacists believed that the current Saudi Pharmacy Licensure Examination (SPLE) is required. However, the recent licensure examination does not adequately measure the general pharmacy practice competencies and skills relevant to entry-level pharmacist practice. Furthermore, it was not adequately prepared for clinical pharmacy practice competencies or internal pharmacy board exams. Therefore, it necessitates targeted updates and changes to the pharmacy practice format to introduce competency standards that continuously measure entry-level skills efficiency.