Program Overview
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accreditation standards list the advancement of pharmacy practice and improving patient care as a required competency for accredited residency programs. Many Arkansas residency programs fulfill this by requiring a research project as a component for successful completion of the residency. Residents may enter the residency with varying levels of experience and exposure to research and the research process. Therefore, residency preceptors and program directors may spend varying amounts of time to assure their residents are able to meet ASHP accreditation standards. This program helps to fill in the gaps and encourage residents to have a long-term research commitment.
The Residency Research Certificate Program offers support for residents and residency programs in Arkansas by providing basic information on how to approach research, manage a project, gather and analyze data, and disseminate findings. Over 100 individuals have completed the program which began in 2015. We provide seminars on topics such as developing a research question, establishing project timelines, calculating sample size, navigating the institutional review board (IRB), analyzing data using Excel, writing abstracts, and communicating project information in multiple formats. Pre-seminar work includes readings and reviews of ASHP’s recorded on-line research webinars. Required activities beyond seminar attendance include presentation of the proposed project at a Residency Research Forum, evaluation of a research presentation made by non-residents, presentation of the completed resident project in a formal setting, and submission of a research manuscript suitable for publication.
The Residency Research Forum serves as a venue for residents to present their project ideas and receive feedback from program directors and pharmacy researchers from around the state. The critical evaluation of a poster or presentation by a non-resident challenges residents to consider the components included in typical research projects from the perspective of the audience which can help inform their own formal project presentations. Writing a research manuscript is the final requirement and allows residents to further develop their abilities to disseminate findings that may change the practice of pharmacy. Upon completion of the program, the resident will receive a Residency Research Certificate.
In participating in the seminars and activities, residents are exposed to individuals who may provide guidance as they develop a project. While each resident will have a local project mentor or advisory committee, there may be questions regarding the information resources, research design, the IRB, statistics, or dissemination where individuals with more experience and who are directly involved in research on a daily basis can provide guidance. The seminars and activities help to provide those networking opportunities for residents.
Program Goal
The Program’s goal is to promote development of the skills necessary for research relevant to pharmacy practice and patient care and provide aid in the research process over the course of the residency.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of the Program and participation in all required components, the participant will:
- Gain experience in the development, implementation, and management of an original research project.
- Collect and evaluate data and perform statistical analyses to assess outcomes.
- Acquire the necessary skills and confidence in disseminating research findings through presentation and manuscript writing for publication.
- Become equipped to contribute to future pharmacy research through mentorship and personal scholarly activity.
Program Components
To be eligible to receive the Residency Research Certificate, the participant must satisfactorily complete each required component of the Program as described below. View the program materials.
- Complete ASHP Essentials of Practice-Based Research for Pharmacists per assigned schedule
- Participate in all Summer Seminar and Winter Seminar workshops and lectures
- Two half-day seminars scheduled approximately in July/August and November/December and one video conference in January/February.
- Participate in the Residency Research Forum (September)
- Present current research at either local, state, regional, or national conference.
- Provide feedback on peer reviewed research of a non-resident (i.e. faculty, preceptor, or student)
- Platform presentation, poster presentation, submitted manuscript, or other
- Submission of a manuscript suitable for publication describing the resident’s research.
- Manuscript must follow author guidelines from a peer-reviewed journal.
- Manuscript must include a description of the background, project rationale and detailed description of methods, results including any relevant figures and/or tables, and conclusions.
- Residents will be asked to select whether or not they intend to seek publication and intended journal.
Interested in participating in the Research Certificate Program?
Lisa C Hutchison, Pharm.D., MPH
Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice
Chair, Research Certificate Program Committee
HutchisonLisaC@uams.edu