Outcomes of a Pharmacy Internship Program at a Quaternary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To design, implement, and evaluate a Hospital-based Pharmacy Internship Program that meets the educational requirements of pharmacy graduates to register as competent pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates.

Method: The Pharmacy Internship Program was designed as a 6-month, full- time, competency-based program. Intern performance was assessed through monthly continuous evaluations. Interns who successfully completed the program were eligible to take the Department of Health Licensing Examination. Pharmacy intern surveys were collected to assess their overall satisfaction with the program.

Results: Over the previous 5 years, the program has trained 53 interns. All interns completed the 6-month training program. Of the 53 graduates, 45 completed the post-internship survey. Interns reported a high level of satisfaction with the program structure and content.

Conclusions: The Pharmacy Internship Program structure was successful in its first 5 years of implementation and was both feasible and sustainable. The program was viewed as highly beneficial for the professional and personal growth of pharmacy interns and provided them with the necessary competencies and skills to successfully enter the workforce.