ASSESSMENT OF THE COMMUNITY INTERNSHIP PERFORMANCE OF THE MCNP BS PHARMACY STUDENTS: ITS RELATION TO THE LEVEL OF SATISFACTION OF THE PHARMACIST TO THE INTERNS

Abstract

Community pharmacists are pivotal in healthcare, ensuring optimal medication use, patient education, and public health advocacy. This study evaluates the community internship performance of MCNP BS Pharmacy students. It explores its relationship to the satisfaction levels of supervising pharmacists. This research investigates how interns' skills in communication, clinical knowledge, professionalism, problem-solving, and patient interaction influence pharmacists' satisfaction, addressing the critical need for effective internship programs. This work contributes to bridging the gap between academic training and the practical demands of community pharmacy practice. The study employed a descriptive-correlational design, with data collected through structured questionnaires distributed to community pharmacists from MCNP-affiliated sites. Respondents, primarily females aged 25–28 with bachelor's degrees, assessed the interns' competencies. Results showed interns excelled in communication, professionalism, and patient interaction, with excellent ratings in attributes like empathy, active listening, and ethical adherence. However, areas such as compounding techniques, error handling, and critical problem-solving demonstrated room for improvement. Statistical analysis revealed significant relationships between pharmacists' demographic profiles and their assessments, emphasizing the role of preceptor characteristics in shaping evaluation outcomes. Limitations of the study include a small sample size and a focus on MCNP-affiliated sites, which may limit generalizability. Despite these constraints, the findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions in internship programs, such as enhanced training in compounding, error prevention, and clinical problem-solving. The study advocates for integrating structured feedback mechanisms and continuous evaluation frameworks to better align internship outcomes with professional pharmacy standards. This research offers actionable insights for improving pharmacy education, fostering stronger pharmacist-intern relationships, and elevating the quality of community pharmacy services. Finally, these enhancements will contribute to producing competent, well-rounded pharmacists equipped to meet the challenges of modern           healthcare.