Perception of electronic peer review of SOAP notes among pharmacy students enrolling in their first pharmacotherapeutics course.

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to assess the perception of electronic peer review of subjective, objective, assessment, plan (SOAP) notes performed by pharmacy students during their first pharmacotherapeutic course experience.

METHODS

In this single-center, cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was administered to students who had undergone an electronic peer review process of a SOAP note. Four areas were assessed: baseline knowledge, development of therapeutic plans, attitudes and perceptions on peer assessment in enhancing SOAP note writing skills, and perceptions of factors that were/would have been helpful toward providing and/or receiving peer assessment.

RESULTS

One hundred students completed and returned the survey (response rate 61.3%). Most students (93%) reported no prior exposure to writing SOAP notes prior to their participation. SOAP note writing was a valuable component of the module, with most students (97%) recognizing that SOAP note writing skills are important for their future practice as pharmacists. Students also acknowledged that activities in the module improved their abilities to develop (93%) and communicate (80%) patient-specific therapeutic plans in the form of SOAP notes.

CONCLUSIONS

Students were comfortable receiving an assessment of a SOAP note from a classmate, and most students indicated that their classmates could provide an honest assessment of their SOAP notes. The electronic peer review process allowed students to receive feedback on their work, and this learning strategy could be further extended to the education of other functional skills that are essential in pharmacy practice.