NABP Launches PSAM, Non-Punitive, Knowledge Evaluation Tool for Pharmacists

May 2, 2005 12:00 AM

NABP Launches PSAM, Non-Punitive, Knowledge Evaluation Tool for Pharmacists

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) is pleased to announce that the Pharmacist Self-Assessment Mechanism™ (PSAM™) is now available. The PSAM is an evaluation tool intended to assist pharmacists in obtaining objective, non-punitive feedback on their knowledge base and is available on the Association's Web site at www.nabp.net. "Today's escalating complexities of health care delivery systems and the evolving role of the pharmacist as the patients' medication expert make it increasingly important for pharmacists to participate in a formal lifelong learning program," explains NABP President Donna M. Horn. "The PSAM will greatly aid pharmacists as they endeavor to better serve their patients because it provides objective feedback on their knowledge base — an outcome that is often difficult for pharmacists attempting to evaluate themselves." The PSAM, which is applicable to general pharmacy practitioners in all practice settings, consists of 100 multiple choice questions and is divided into three sections of equal length. Each section can be completed in as little as one hour, but a maximum of three hours per section is allowed. Pharmacists may take all three sections in one sitting, or complete one section at a time, but once a section is begun it must be completed in its entirety. All three sections must be completed within 30 days of when pharmacists begin the first section. The fee for the PSAM is $75.

To benefit pharmacists and serve as a learning tool, the end of each section offers a feedback loop, which displays each question, the answer selected, the correct answer, a brief rationale, and a reference where more information relating to the topic may be obtained. Upon completion of the PSAM, pharmacists receive a Record of Completion indicating their name and date of completion.

As a non-punitive learning tool, the PSAM does not report scores to any person or group other than the pharmacist utilizing the PSAM. Once they have completed the mechanism, pharmacists will receive a confidential Achievement Report indicating the percentage of questions answered correctly in each of the five content areas as well as the overall percentage of questions answered correctly. The Achievement Report is separate from the Record of Completion and has no identifiers of the test taker.

The PSAM is one part of NABP's Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program, a cyclical process that includes five components: reflecting upon one's practice, conducting a learning needs assessment, developing a learning plan, implementing the learning plan, and evaluating the learning plan outcomes. As a component of CPD, the PSAM facilitates the general pharmacy practitioner's ability to conduct a needs assessment and develop a learning plan.

For more information about the PSAM, contact NABP's Customer Service Department at 847/391-4406 or via e-mail at custserv@nabp.net, or visit the Association's Web site at www.nabp.net.

Renee Renganathan