2558. Pharmacy Students’ Perceptions and Confidence to Recommend Appropriate Empiric Antibiotic Therapy in Infective Endocarditis Following Mannequin-Based Simulation

BACKGROUND: Mannequin-based simulation (MBS) has been shown to increase healthcare student confidence. Limited data describes the use of MBS for infectious diseases (ID) education, particularly among pharmacy students. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of MBS on pharmacy student confidence to recommend appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy for infective endocarditis (IE), and to evaluate students’ perceptions of MBS. METHODS: This single-center, cross-sectional, electronic, anonymous survey was conducted in a second professional year skills education course at a 4-year Doctor of Pharmacy program. Students were provided a pre-survey following IE education via didactic, large classroom instruction, which occurred 2 weeks prior to MBS. The pre-survey asked participants to assess their confidence to recommend appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy for IE on a Likert scale from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). Participants were provided a post-survey following MBS. The post-survey included the pre-survey questions, as well as questions regarding demographics, and perceptions of MBS. Participation was voluntary. RESULTS: The survey was distributed to 58 students; 93% (54/58) and 90% (52/58) responded to the pre- and post-survey, respectively. Most were female (29/52, 56%) and 50% (26/52) had a Bachelor’s degree. Half were interested in an ID pharmacy experiential rotation (26/52, 50%), and most were interested in pursuing post-graduate residency training (30/52, 57%). The majority agreed or strongly agreed that MBS was an enjoyable learning experience (48/52, 92%) that improved their knowledge of IE (48/52, 93%). Additionally, most agreed or strongly agreed that MBS improved their learning compared with written case-based instruction (46/52, 89%). Students agreed or strongly agreed that MBS increased their confidence to recommend appropriate empiric antibiotics for IE (pre-survey: 70% vs. post-survey: 87%, P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: MBS appeared to increase pharmacy student confidence in their ability to recommend appropriate empiric antibiotics for IE. Pharmacy students agreed that MBS was an enjoyable learning experience that improved their knowledge, and preferred MBS compared with written case-based instruction. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.