Identification and evaluation of medication-related issues relating to patient's own drugs by pharmacy students while on placement in a tertiary hospital

Background Pharmacy students require knowledge of prescribing and supply of medicines; this is achievable through work-based learning. In UK hospitals, pharmacy technicians assess patient's own drugs (PODs) so medicines can be used as they would be at home. Student-led POD checks have not yet been considered as an opportunity for legitimate peripheral participation (LPP). Aim To evaluate an undergraduate pharmacy placement model using POD checking as a way of gaining LPP within a UK tertiary hospital. Method Students (n = 100) attended nine placements over academic year 2020-2021; they were supervised by a pharmacy technician to complete POD checks. Data were collected concerning student activities and resulting medication-related issues (MRIs); data were descriptively analysed. Results 1094 patients were seen by pharmacy students and 296 MRIs identified. Omitted (non-prescribed) medicines were the most common MRI (32.1%), followed by incorrect stock items (16.2%). Most MRIs were medium risk (65.5%). The most common actions/outcomes were handover to another ward member (41.6%) or medication removal (25.3%). Conclusion Clinically relevant MRIs relating to PODs can be identified by pharmacy students while experiencing LPP. These activities illustrate scalable work-based learning where pharmacy students can contribute to patient care in relation to the use and supply of medicines.