How does undergraduate experiential learning shape the transition from pharmacy student to trainee pharmacist: a qualitative study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN50020604 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN50020604 |
| Sponsor | NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde |
| Funder | NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Pharmacy Services Catalytic Research Funding |
- Submission date
- 18/05/2026
- Registration date
- 04/06/2026
- Last edited
- 04/06/2026
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
In Scotland, pharmacy students complete an undergraduate Master of Pharmacy degree that includes experiential learning placements in real healthcare settings. After graduating, they enter the Foundation Training Year, a supervised practice year before they can register as pharmacists. This study explores trainee pharmacist’s views of undergraduate experiential learning placements, including how well these placements prepared them for this transition and what could be improved for future learners.
Who can participate?
Participants will be trainee pharmacists in their Foundation Training Year who have graduated from one of the two Schools of Pharmacy in Scotland and are currently working in Scotland. This includes trainees in hospital-only, split-sector, and modular programmes. Split-sector programmes involve training across community and hospital settings. Modular programmes involve training across a health board setting, such as hospital, community, or specialist services.
What does the study involve?
The study involves in person semi-structured interviews lasting about 30 minutes. Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed. Some background information will also be collected to give a summary of participant’s characteristics e.g. male/female. The interviews will explore trainee pharmacist's experiences of undergraduate experiential learning placements and how these influenced their transition into the Foundation Training Year. They will gather views on preparedness for practice, development of skills, knowledge and confidence, feedback, factors affecting placement quality, and suggestions for improving the experiential learning programme.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Taking part will help improve understanding of how practice-based learning prepares pharmacy students for professional practice and may inform recommendations to improve the undergraduate experiential learning programme for future learners. The project will follow NHS Scotland guidance for service evaluation studies, which assess and improve services, and will protect participants’ data and confidentiality. No significant risks are expected from taking part.
Where is the study run from?
The study is being carried out in Scotland and will recruit participants nationally through education and training networks. The lead organisation is NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Scotland’s largest regional public healthcare organisation.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study is expected to begin in December 2025 and run until August 2026.
Who is funding the study?
The project is funded through an NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Pharmacy Services grant that supports new projects.
Who is the main contact?
Clodagh Clarke, Clodagh.Clarke2@nhs.scot
Contact information
Principal investigator, Scientific, Public
Clarkston Court, 56 Busby Road, Clarkston
Glasgow
G76 7AT
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)7415032505 |
|---|---|
| clodagh.clarke2@nhs.scot |
Study information
| Primary study design | Observational |
|---|---|
| Observational study design | Qualitative observational study using semi-structured interviews |
| Scientific title | How does undergraduate experiential learning shape the transition from pharmacy student to trainee pharmacist: a qualitative study |
| Study objectives | 1. Understand the perceptions and experiences of FTY trainees on the effectiveness of the Experiential Learning (EL) programme. 2. Based on findings, make recommendations on the development of EL programme delivery. Undergraduate pharmacy experiential learning (EL) provides students with opportunities to learn within real healthcare environments throughout their MPharm degree, including community pharmacy, hospital, and primary care settings. By connecting academic learning with practical experience, it aims to support the development of confident, reflective, and patient-centred future pharmacists, while helping students build an understanding of multidisciplinary working, professional practice, and the evolving role of pharmacy ahead of the Foundation Training Year (FTY). This work explores the experiences of Foundation Trainee Pharmacists in Scotland. Foundation Trainee Pharmacists are pharmacy graduates undertaking a structured, supervised training year following completion of their university degree and prior to registration as pharmacists. The study will gather trainees' reflections on the role of undergraduate experiential learning in supporting their transition into practice. By exploring how these early practice-based experiences influenced their Foundation Training Year, this work aims to identify perceived benefits, challenges, and opportunities to further enhance pharmacy undergraduate education and preparedness for practice. Training pathways for foundation trainee pharmacists within health boards may vary. Some trainees complete their foundation training year within hospital sites, while others undertake rotations across hospital and primary care services (split programmes). Additionally, some trainees rotate between community pharmacy and Health Board settings (modular programmes), including acute, specialist, or primary care services. To ensure representation of different educational backgrounds, participants will be recruited from graduates of both Schools of Pharmacy in Scotland. Invitations to participate will be distributed nationally across all Scottish Health Boards via the Education and Training network to capture a diverse range of training experiences. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Ethics approval not required |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Undergraduate pharmacy experiential learning |
| Methodology | Qualitative semi-structured interviews. Sample: Consistent with reflexive thematic analysis, sample size will be guided by the richness and relevance of the data. Participants will be purposively sampled from Foundation Training Year pharmacists across Scotland, including those undertaking hospital-only training placements, split training placements (placements split between hospital and primary care) and modular training programmes (placements split between community pharmacy and health board settings [e.g., acute hospital, specialist, or primary care]) |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) | |
| Completion date | 03/08/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 100 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 20 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Participants are Foundation Trainee Pharmacists working within NHS Scotland who have completed an MPharm degree in one of the Scottish Schools of Pharmacy and are undertaking their Foundation Training Year in hospital, primary care, or community pharmacy settings. This cohort comprises individuals in their final year of supervised training prior to eligibility for registration as pharmacists. Those who provide informed consent within this cohort will be included in the interview study. |
| Key exclusion criteria | Foundation trainee pharmacists who did not complete their MPharm at a Scottish School of Pharmacy |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/12/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 03/08/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- Scotland
Study participating centres
Glasgow
G76 7AT
Scotland
Glasgow
G71 8BB
Scotland
Inverness
IV2 3JH
Scotland
Aberdeen
AB15 6RE
Scotland
Edinburgh
EH4 2XU
Scotland
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|
Editorial Notes
27/05/2026: Trial's existence confirmed by West of Scotland Research Ethics Service.
